Gervonta Davis has been named the WBA’s “champion in recess” at lightweight, driven by the sanctioning body’s desire to keep the division moving amid the unbeaten star’s mounting legal issues. WBA officials confirmed the move following the execution of an arrest warrant in Miami Gardens, Florida, tied to an alleged incident from October.
The designation effectively ends Davis’ more than four-year reign as the primary WBA lightweight titleholder. WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza confirmed the downgrade, noting that the organization’s executive committee will soon determine whether to proceed with a vacant 135-pound title fight. Davis previously held the WBA “regular” belt from December 2019 before being elevated to full champion status in early 2024.
Davis is currently being sought by Miami Gardens police and faces charges that include battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping. The allegations stem from an incident at the workplace of his former partner and have already had major boxing consequences, including the cancellation of a planned November novelty bout with Jake Paul.
Inside the ring, Davis has been inactive, last fighting on March 1 when he settled for a majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in Brooklyn. Even prior to the most recent legal developments, there were growing calls for the WBA to strip him of the title due to inactivity, including the collapse of a planned August pay-per-view event last year.
If the WBA moves forward with a vacant title bout, Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi are the two highest-rated contenders and have both expressed interest in fighting for the belt. Mendoza confirmed that Davis will still be given the opportunity to present his case as more details emerge, but for now, the WBA appears committed to ensuring that the lightweight title picture continues without him.
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