A WBA author has jumped to referee Steve Willis’ defence following his widely lambasted performance in Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr’s showdown.

‘Tank’ made a successful defence of his WBA world lightweight title last Saturday, coming away from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with a highly contentious draw.

Ahead of his closely contested encounter with Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs), many expected the 30-year-old to take care of business – against a fighter coming up in weight – in emphatic fashion.

That, however, was far from what actually unfolded on the night, with Roach instead producing a comprehensive display to take Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs), the distance.

But while ‘The Reaper’ was left feeling aggrieved by the judges’ scorecards, he also has an argument to say that he should have secured a knockdown in the ninth round.

Despite issuing a count after Davis took a knee, experienced official Willis then made a U-turn and ultimately ruled the incident a no knockdown.

Later, Davis insisted that he only hit the canvas because the hair product from his braids had slipped into his eyes, causing them to burn.

But still, with Roach landing a jab just moments before his opponent took a knee, there was hope that the result could potentially get overturned.

The New York State Athletic Commission, though, has since claimed that a technical issue meant that the possible 10-8 round could not be reviewed through instant replay.

Signs of a possible victory for Roach have now become even less promising, too, with a WBA author believing that Willis’ decision was “not unreasonable or unjustifiable.”

Regarding a rematch, meanwhile, the sanctioning body’s writer has opined that it is now “up to the promoters to make it happen.”