The boxing world has been thrown into chaos as referee Steve Willis, the official at the center of the controversial Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. fight, has come forward with a stunning revelation. In an exclusive interview with *Boxing Scene* late Friday, Willis confirmed the authenticity of a leaked audio recording that allegedly captures Davis and his trainer, Calvin Ford, discussing a bribe to influence the outcome of their March 1, 2025, bout at Barclays Center. Willis’ bombshell, which has exploded on X with #WillisSpeaks trending at over 6 million views, has ignited a firestorm of outrage, potentially marking one of the biggest scandals in recent boxing history.
The audio, first leaked on March 4 by *The Ring*, was recorded during the eighth and ninth rounds of the Davis-Roach fight, which ended in a majority draw (115-113, 114-114, 114-114) before being overturned by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) into a loss for Davis on March 5, stripping him of his WBA lightweight title. In the recording, Ford can be heard telling Davis, “We can fix this—pay the right guy, Tank,” after Davis took a knee in the ninth round, citing grease in his eyes—a moment Willis controversially ruled as a non-knockdown. Davis responds, “Man, I can’t see! You tryna cheat now?” The implication of a bribe has fueled speculation, but Willis’ confirmation has turned suspicion into a full-blown crisis.
“I heard the audio, and yes, it’s real,” Willis told *Boxing Scene*, his voice heavy with emotion. “After the eighth round, I was approached by someone from Davis’ camp—not Calvin directly, but someone close to him—offering me $50,000 to ‘look the other way’ on any close calls. I refused immediately and reported it to the commission after the fight, but I didn’t think it’d come to this.” Willis, a veteran referee with over 20 years in the sport, said he was “devastated” by the attempt to compromise his integrity, adding, “This isn’t what boxing should be. I’ve never felt so disrespected.”
The NYSAC, already under scrutiny for its handling of the fight—particularly its failure to use instant replay due to a “technical issue”—has launched a formal investigation into the bribery allegations. “We take these claims extremely seriously,” an NYSAC spokesperson told *ESPN*. “If substantiated, those involved will face severe consequences, including potential lifetime bans.” Legal experts note that bribery in sports can also lead to criminal charges, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, further escalating the stakes for Davis and Ford.
Reactions on X are fierce, with #WillisSpeaks and #DavisBribeScandal dominating trends. “If this is true, Tank and Calvin need to be banned for life—boxing can’t survive this corruption!” tweeted @BoxingJustice2025, while @TankLoyal2023 countered, “Willis is lying to cover his bad call—where’s the proof?” Some fans point to Willis’ controversial non-knockdown ruling as evidence of bias, though his refusal of the alleged bribe paints him as a whistleblower in the eyes of others. Lamont Roach Jr., now the WBA lightweight champion, reacted on X, saying, “I knew something wasn’t right. They tried to rob me—now the truth’s out!”
Davis, now 30-1, and Ford have yet to respond, but the fallout is mounting. Davis’ recent split with Ford, announced after the NYSAC ruling, and Floyd Mayweather’s earlier condemnation of their “disgraceful” actions, add fuel to the fire. The WBA has called for a thorough investigation, with president Gilberto Mendoza stating, “We cannot tolerate corruption in our sport.” As the boxing community reels, Willis’ bombshell could reshape the lightweight division and the sport’s integrity for years to come.
