Gervonta Davis has been downgraded from his position as the WBA lightweight world champion and now one of his fiercest foes could be poised to fight for the full belt.
‘Tank’ fought once during 2025, controversially drawing with then WBA super-featherweight world champion Lamont Roach Jr and perhaps being fortunate to do so.
The Baltimore brute was then expected to take on Jake Paul in November, but he was pulled from the bout due to domestic violence allegations, after a civil lawsuit was filed by one of his ex-partners.
Now, the 31-year-old has been issued an arrest warrant for that incident, citing charges including false imprisonment, battery and attempted kidnapping, with the WBA responding by naming Davis as a champion-in-recess, thus making their lightweight title a vacant one.
At present, the frontrunner to challenge for the belt is WBA #1 contender Floyd Schofield, with #2 contender Lucas Bahdi deemed the most likely man for the opposing corner in a vacant title clash.
However, Roach Jr, who also drew in a bid for the WBA super-lightweight crown last year, told his Twitch stream that he plans to return to lightweight, where he is rated as the WBA #4, and challenge Schofield for the title.
“There is a possibility that I can fight Kid Austin [Schofield] for the WBA 135lb title. We definitely gonna push for that.”
It remains to be seen whether the WBA will order Schofield to take on Bahdi, Roach Jr. or #3 rated Bakhodur Usmonov but Roach will likely be the fans’ pick, after many feels he deserved to get his hands on the belt when he drew with Davis last March.
