World title fight ‘set for April’ for Gervonta Davis’ old belt

Last month, Gervonta Davis was stripped of his WBA lightweight world title and a date for a clash for the now vacant belt has been confirmed, with one of boxing’s most exciting prospects involved in the bout.

Davis was winless since June 2024 prior to being stripped, with his lone outing since being a debatable draw against Lamont Roach Jr last March, that almost cost him his undefeated record.

Since then, a number of external issues have been behind the inactivity of ‘Tank’, who was issued with an arrest warrant issues based on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.

As a result, the WBA have decided to demote Davis to champion-in-recess, meaning that their lightweight title is now vacant, but that Davis will be well poised to challenge the new champion upon his return.

On Instagram, the WBA’s number one contender, 23-year-old Floyd Schofield, has revealed that he will be fighting for the vacant title in April.

“We been through the fire to get to this point in our life.

“We have so much more to do and so much more life to live. Stay tuned and continue to watch the growth of both me and my son.

“Tune in April for our @wbaboxingofficial World Title fight. Thank you to all our sponsors, fans and friends.”

It is believed that ‘Kid Austin’ will collide with Canada’s Lucas Bahdi, despite the latter being ordered for an IBF final eliminator against Albert Bell earlier this week, with Saturday, April 11, the anticipated fight date.

The man Gervonta Davis wants next responds to call out

Whilst Gervonta Davis’ comeback date is unknown, his opponent may become obvious in the coming weeks, as his targeted dance partner has shared his willingness to accept a fight with the Baltimore-born knockout artist.

Davis has not won a fight since June 2024, with his lone outing since being a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr – which many fans felt should have cost him both his WBA lightweight world title and his undefeated record.

However, whilst Roach couldn’t capture Davis’ 135lb belt, the WBA have since demoted ‘Tank’ to champion-in-recess, after he was issued with an arrest warrant regarding allegations of domestic violence.

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Although, when discussing his eventual return on social media, Davis admitted his intentions of rematching Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, whom he defeated by unanimous-decision in December 2021.

“I’m taking him [Cruz] next, soon as my knee gets better.”

In response, Cruz’s advisor, Sean Gibbons, has now told BoxingScene that Davis sits at the top of Cruz’s hit-list, describing their meeting as ‘unfinished business’ after their enthralling encounter over four years ago.

“He called me and has put together a little hit-list of three guys. At the top of the list is Gervonta Davis. It marks unfinished business for ‘Pitbull’, and Gervonta has lots of unfinished business.

“I think that can come together in this timeframe. Gervonta beat him already; is backed in a corner; doesn’t want to fight Shakur or Roach. He needs a guy who’ll bring him money. ‘Pitbull’ earned the right for that signature fight.

“The big, big one that captivates audiences, and with Gervonta or Ryan [Garcia], he would capture that. The guy’s itching to do something in a big way.”

It remains to be seen whether Davis will return to the ring anytime soon, but if he does, a second showdown with Cruz could be in store.

Gervonta Davis escapes new arrest warrant after Baltimore judge recalls it, legal troubles cost him WBA title status

Gervonta Davis is once again in the headlines, but not for his boxing performances. The Baltimore lightweight star recently avoided a second arrest warrant after a judge agreed to recall it.

The development comes months after he was accused of assaulting his former girlfriend in Miami, an incident that forced the cancellation of a planned exhibition bout with Jake Paul. Police arrested Davis with the help of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force before he was later released on bond.

His legal problems did not end there. Soon after his release, another warrant was issued because he allegedly violated probation linked to a 2020 hit-and-run case that injured four people, including a pregnant woman. Now the court has changed course and allowed Davis to appear under supervision instead. While the decision gives him temporary relief, it arrives as his career faces uncertainty and his championship status has already been affected.

Court decision offers relief for Gervonta Davis as the impact on career grows

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As reported by Baltimore Banner, on February 2, Circuit Judge Althea Handy issued a warrant after prosecutors argued Davis broke probation conditions. His lawyer Hunter Pruette asked the court to withdraw it and instead require the boxer to attend hearings under GPS monitoring. Prosecutors did not object to the request, and the judge recalled the warrant.

“We’re thankful the court recalled the warrant. Mr. Davis remains compliant and will continue to appear as required”, Pruette said.

In simpler terms, his lawyer indicated relief over the court’s decision and stressed that the boxer is cooperating with legal requirements and will attend hearings when asked.

This is not Davis’ first issue with the same case. In 2023, Judge Handy sentenced him to 90 days of home detention and three years of probation. He later served jail time after authorities discovered he was staying at a luxury hotel and penthouse instead of the approved address.

The World Boxing Association has also reacted. Davis has been moved to “champion in recess,” ending his four-year run as the primary lightweight titleholder. WBA officials will now decide whether to order a vacant title fight. Possible matchups include top contender Floyd Schofield Jr. facing Lucas Bahdi or Lamont Roach Jr.

Davis still has a chance to defend himself in future hearings, but his legal situation continues to overshadow his boxing career.

For much of late 2025, Gervonta Davis appeared to be managing the timing of his own exit from professional boxing.

He spoke openly about stepping away, questioned what the sport still offered him, and leaned toward exhibition-style opportunities rather than traditional title pathways.

At the time, the direction looked deliberate.

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A Planned Exit, Then a Loss of Control
Fighters change their minds. Some retire and return. Others step away briefly before deciding they want back in. That cycle is familiar in boxing.

What separates Davis’ situation is not the idea of fighting again, but how much control he now has over whether that can happen.

Recent reports suggest Davis wants to resume his career. Yet there is no confirmed opponent, no announced date, and no promotional timetable.

In a sport built around scheduling and certainty, that absence matters.

Availability Becomes the Limiting Factor
As the situation currently stands, Davis is dealing with legal issues that directly affect his ability to return to the ring. He has been released on bond in Miami and has a separate active warrant from Baltimore.

If that situation is not resolved, the consequence is simple. A fighter who cannot guarantee availability risks losing the ability to be licensed, scheduled, or cleared to compete.

In the most basic terms, freedom becomes part of the equation. The legal process will proceed as it does, and boxing does not wait for it.

Athletic commissions need certainty. Promoters and broadcasters plan months in advance. When doubt replaces reliability, cards move on without the fighter involved.

When Boxing Moves Forward
The lightweight division does not pause. The WBA’s decision to remove Davis as champion already showed how quickly the landscape can change.

Rankings shift. Mandatory situations change. Opponents make other plans. Once that happens, a return becomes less about ability and more about timing.

Davis remains at an age where elite fighters can still deliver defining performances. But boxing history is clear. Prime years lost to inactivity are rarely recovered.

The window does not close with an announcement. It closes when the sport no longer holds space for an individual.

Inside the industry, fighters are judged not only by record but also by availability. When uncertainty replaces scheduling, leverage fades and momentum moves elsewhere.

In late 2025, Davis appeared to be closing a chapter by choice. In early 2026, that choice may no longer rest entirely with him.

No judgment is required to understand the stakes. If a clear path back to competition cannot be established, boxing will continue as it always has — forward.

In practical terms, that is how many careers end. Not with a farewell, but with an absence that quietly becomes permanent.

Gervonta Davis: The Controversial Video That Almost Cost Him His Freedom

Gervonta Davis is back in the eye of the storm, and once again, it’s not because of his powerful knockouts in the ring. The American fighter sparked a social media firestorm by sharing a clip that many interpreted as a mockery of his current legal situation: he was seen celebrating with alcohol and luxury, just days after being granted probation.

The Video of Discord The controversy erupted when Davis reposted a video alongside a friend in a high-end car, decorated with champagne glass emojis. Public opinion was quick to react with indignation, assuming the boxer was defying the sobriety and low profile expected of someone under judicial supervision following his recent legal battles.

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Following his arrest in Miami and the payment of a multi-million dollar bail, Davis must comply with strict restrictions, including a total restraining order. While his athletic career appears to be at a standstill and his fans begin to look elsewhere, Gervonta is fighting to keep his permanent freedom from a justice system that refuses to look away.

Gervonta Davis Will Return to Prison After Violating His Probation

Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested and booked Wednesday, Jan. 28 on charges of attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment and battery, according to records with the Miami-Dade County, Florida Clerk of Court and Corrections and Rehabilation Department.

Davis, 31, was jailed and held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, records show. His bond was set at $16,000, according to records.

Davis was released from custody Thursday night after posting bond, said Juan Diasgranados, Public Affairs Manager Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.

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Attorney Simon Steckel, who’s representing Davis, said he entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of the boxer.

“I intend to demonstrate the fact that he is a victim and because he’s a victim, he’s not guilty of these charges,” Steckel told USA TODAY Sports. The legal action against boxer stems from a woman saying Davis attacked her while she was working at Tootsie’s Cabaret strip club Oct. 27 in Miami Gardens.

The woman also filed a civil lawsuit in which she said Davis committed battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress against her.

Emmanuel Jeanty, an executive officer with the Miami Gardens Police Department, during a press conference Jan. 14 called the matter “a domestic violence incident.” He said Davis was wanted on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping and that the police department was working with the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force “to locate and apprehend” the boxer.

Jeanty also said surveillance video corroborated important parts of the woman’s account of what happened during the alleged attack.

Attorney Richard Wolfe, who represents the woman, allowed USA TODAY Sports to view surveillance video during a FaceTime call. USA TODAY Sports also obtained a report compiled by a manager Toostie’s Cabaret about the incident.

Davis was arrested at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday and the location of the arrest was the Miami Gardens Police Department, according to an arrest form. But Supervisor Deputy U.S. Marshal Elisee Colin told USA TODAY Sports the arrest took place in the Miami Design District and at the time he said Davis was wearing a ski mask.

Colin said the Mashals Task Force, working hand-in-hand with the Miami Gardens Police Department, were able to identify Davis by his tattoos. Colin said they have been tracking Davis for two weeks before making the arrest.

“I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t have just turned himself in,” Colin said.

Davis is on probation from a 2023 hit-and-run case in Baltimore, Maryland, in which he pleaded guilty to multiple traffic offenses. In March, Davis admitted he left the state without permission and his probation was extended by 18 months, according to The Baltimore Banner.

In November, according to one of Davis’ representatives, the boxer had left Florida for Maryland with his legal status and the future of his boxing career unclear. Davis was born and raised in Baltimore but in recent years moved to Florida.

The legal issues led on Nov. 3 to the cancellation of Davis’ fight against Jake Paul, which was scheduled for Nov. 14 in Miami.

The Miami Gardens Police Department said it had no information to provide Wednesday night and that its public information officer would not return until Thursday.

But during the Jan. 14 press conference, Jeanty provided additional information:

The woman, who was working at Tootsie’s Cabaret as a VIP cocktail waitress when she said Davis attacked her, said she had known Davis since 2022. The woman also said she and Davis were in an intimate relationship for five months and it ended about a month before the alleged attack at the strip club.

Gervonta Davis was released on bail just hours after being apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Miami Gardens police, as we look at what is next.

The arrest brought an end to a two-week manhunt that began on January 14. Davis was ultimately located in Miami’s Design District and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Facility before posting bail for $8,500. Davis was taken in after he was accused of charges stemming from a domestic dispute relating to his ex over battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping.

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It is claimed he grabbed her by the hair and throat before trying to get her into his vehicle. While Davis is currently free, he is subject to standard travel restrictions and is strictly prohibited from contacting the victim. The victim is also pursuing a civil lawsuit seeking over $50,000 in damages. Despite his, Tank Davis’ attorney hit back.

“Gervonta Davis is actually a victim here, and I look forward to establishing that shocking narrative in court. What has happened to Gervonta Davis in this case will transcend the initial charges against him and expose a level of criminality which will be talked about long after his charges are resolved,” Simon Steckel said

The Future

Professionally, Davis is at a standstill. The World Boxing Association recently stripped him of his lightweight title, designating him a “champion in recess” due to his inactivity and the gravity of his legal situation. He hasn’t fought since a controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. in March 2025, and his highly publicized exhibition match against Jake Paul—originally set for late 2025—was scrapped specifically because of the civil lawsuit filed by the victim. Promoters are currently hesitant to book him, as travel restrictions and potential court dates make scheduling a fight more risky.

Davis could target a late 2026 “super-fight” against the winner of the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson to reclaim standing. That would require Davis to face the best, something he has previously been criticized for not doing. Tank could take that fight at 135 pounds if Shakur wins and moves back down to lightweight where he is the WBC champ. Alternatively if Lopez wins, Tank could move up to 140 to target that WBO belt. Davis previously moved up to 140 and defeated Mario Barrios. Lopez is ready to face the best.

“He just needs to let go of his pride and ego,” Lopez told a group of reporters in regard to a potential tilt with Tank. Just play business, bro. You really want to fight us, that’s how we can make it happen. We all want to fight each other,” Lopez stated