Gervonta “Tank” Davis once again finds his career clouded by controversy. Just days after his ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, Most Valuable Promotions officially canceled Davis’ planned exhibition with Jake Paul, which was set for November 14 in Miami. The fallout even led Paul to call Davis “a walking human piece of garbage.”
Now, with his reputation tarnished and his WBA lightweight title reign effectively on pause, Davis faces an uncertain future. The 31-year-old has hinted at retirement over the past year, admitting that his motivation for boxing has faded amid mounting personal troubles.
Hall of Famer and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who co-promoted Davis’ 2023 knockout victory over Ryan Garcia, reflected on the situation — torn between admiration for Davis’ talent and frustration at his repeated self-destruction.
“He's a great fighter and one of my favorites in the ring. Outside of the ring, for some reason, he gets in trouble,” De La Hoya told reporters. “I'm not sure what he's going through. If he is going through something, I wish him all the best and hope that he gets back on a straight line. This is a tough sport that gets into your psyche and [messes] with you.”
De La Hoya also questioned whether Davis was ever truly invested in the Jake Paul exhibition, suggesting it didn’t align with the fighter’s competitive nature.
“I don't really know if he wanted this fight, and an exhibition. I don't know if that's in Tank's nature,” he said. “Yeah, it would have been a great payday and a lot of exposure, but it would have done nothing for his legacy. … Who knows if he's ever going to fight again? I wish he does. I want to see him against the very best with the fights the fans want to see. He's a plus for the sport. I really wish he gets it together.”
Davis has fought just five times in the past three and a half years and has not appeared since a controversial majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in March — a stark contrast to the rapid momentum that once made him one of boxing’s brightest stars.
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