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In a blow to his professional career, the World Boxing Association (WBA) officially stripped Gervonta “Tank” Davis of his lightweight world title. The decision follows the issuance of an arrest warrant in Miami Gardens, Florida, tied to a harrowing alleged domestic violence incident involving his former girlfriend, Courtney Rossel. Davis, 31, has been reclassified as a “Champion in Recess,” a designation that effectively vacates the title and allows the organization to move forward with crowning a new championwhile Davis remains a fugitive.
The legal troubles began on January 14, 2026, when the Miami Gardens Police Department issued a warrant for Davis on charges of battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping. The warrant stems from an incident on October 27, 2025, at Tootsie’s Cabaret, where Rossel worked as a VIP server. According to court filings and police statements, Davis allegedly grabbed Rossel by the hair and throat, dragging her through a stairwell and kitchen before attempting to force her into a vehicle in a nearby parking garage. Police officials stated that surveillance footage corroborated the victim’s account of being restrained against her will.
The WBA’s decision to penalize Davis was confirmed by President Gilberto Mendoza during an appearance on ESPN KnockOut. While Davis’s status as “Champion in Recess” technically preserves a path for his return, the organization cited his legal status and prolonged inactivity as the primary reasons for the change. Davis has not fought since a controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. in March 2025. A highly anticipated exhibition bout against Jake Paul, originally scheduled for November 2025, was also canceled by organizers following the initial emergence of these allegations.
As of January 20, 2026, Davis remains at large. The Miami Gardens Police Department, in coordination with the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, has labeled the undefeated boxer a fugitive and is actively seeking his whereabouts. The charges against him are severe; if convicted, Davis faces up to 15 years in prison for the felony kidnapping charge alone. With his career now on a hiatus and his undefeated 30-0-1 record overshadowed by legal troubles, the WBA is expected to order a fight between top contenders, likely Floyd Schofield and either Lucas Bahdi or Lamont Roach Jr., to crown a new active lightweight champion.