Gervonta Davis’s hairstylist has responded to the boxing champion’s assertion that excessive hair grease led him to take a knee during his bout with Lamont Roach.
Davis retained his WBA lightweight title and undefeated record following a contentious draw with Lamont Roach in New York.
In the ninth round, Davis unexpectedly kneeled down after reacting to a jab from Roach.
Referee Steve Willis did not count it as a knockdown, although boxing rules typically require a count if a glove or knee touches the canvas.
Davis faced jeers from the crowd at Barclays Center after he attributed his knee-down moment to hair grease getting into his eyes.
He stated, “I got my hair styled two days ago, and she applied grease to my hair.”
“So, it was like sweating, and the grease was running into my face.
“It caused a burning sensation in my eyes. Seriously, why are you booing as if I’m making things up?
“These are genuine facts. Look at my hair; I just had it styled.
“But it’s alright. You know how it goes. They adore you, then they despise you. Then they adore you again.”
Davis’s hairstylist, Lee The Brand, has since defended her work.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, she wrote: “I styled his hair on WEDNESDAY, and it’s SATURDAY! He had press engagements, gym sessions, and weigh-ins.
“That’s not a valid excuse; how much grease could I have possibly used?”
She then showcased a Conditioning Shine product labeled “no grease.”
One judge scored the fight 115-113 for Davis, while the other two judges scored it 114-114, resulting in a draw. If the knee had been ruled a knockdown, Roach would have been declared the winner.
Roach, 29, commented, “If you voluntarily take a knee, and the referee begins a count, it should be considered a knockdown.
“If that were a knockdown, I would have won the fight. But, it is what it is. I’m not relying on that knockdown for a win. I just believed I had won.”
“Honestly, I hope for a rematch. I definitely want a rematch.”
Davis, 30, also indicated he was open to a rematch and defended his decision to take a knee on social media.
He posted, “They took the victory from me and called it a draw because of that knee incident.
“But I landed more punches in the fight. He didn’t even hit me when I took a knee.
“I understand, though; I shouldn’t have done that, but the hair grease was really burning my eyes!”
