Gervonta “Tank” Davis is no longer the WBA lightweight champion.
The WBA officially announced on Friday that Davis is being made champion in recess, with the sanctioning body’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked contenders, Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi, ordered to fight for the vacant title.
“The Championships Committee of the pioneering organization reviewed Davis’ legal situation and reached its decision after determining that the ongoing proceedings could prevent him from fulfilling his championship obligations in the short and medium term.
“According to publicly available information, Davis is currently facing pending legal proceedings in the United States that could result in a trial and affect his ability to defend the title within the timeframes established by WBA regulations.”
“The Championships Committee of the pioneering organization reviewed Davis’ legal situation and reached its decision after determining that the ongoing proceedings could prevent him from fulfilling his championship obligations in the short and medium term.
“According to publicly available information, Davis is currently facing pending legal proceedings in the United States that could result in a trial and affect his ability to defend the title within the timeframes established by WBA regulations.”
Davis is being accused of battery and kidnapping by his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, stemming from an incident that took place on Oct. 27 of last year at Tootsies, a Miami gentlemen’s club. A Maryland judge issued a warrant for his arrest in April after the altercation was deemed a potential violation of Davis’ probation order in the state.
Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) captured the WBA (Regular) lightweight title in 2019 after beating Yuriorkis Gamboa. He made four defenses before being named the full champion in 2023 after then-undisputed champion Devin Haney exited the division. “Tank” has retained the belt twice, with an eighth-round knockout of Frank Martin in June 2024 and a controversial draw against Lamont Roach in his latest fight in March 2025.
After being named champion in recess in January because of an arrest warrant in Miami stemming from the October incident, Davis was reinstated a few months later and was ordered to face Schofield in May. But with negotiations for that fight hitting a wall and with his latest legal problems looming, Davis has now been relinquished of his strap.
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