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WBA finally addresses Gervonta Davis status as champion after arrest warrant issued

Tom Eaton

16th January, 2026

WBA finally addresses Gervonta Davis status as champion after arrest warrant issued
Image credit: Getty

After news that an arrest warrant has been issued for WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis, the WBA has provided an update on whether action will be taken.

‘Tank’ Davis was arrested on battery domestic violence charges in both February 2020 and December 2022, before being arrested once again last July after reportedly striking one of his ex-girlfriends. Charges were dropped just one month later.

The reigning 135lb champion was then scheduled to face Jake Paul in a lucrative showdown in Miami, until he was pulled from the card due to new domestic violence allegations, after a civil lawsuit was filed by another of his ex-partners.

Anthony Joshua stepped in for Davis and handed Paul a first stoppage defeat last month, whilst the Baltimore-born bruiser was left contemplating his future in the sport.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Davis had been issued an arrest warrant for the incident that cost him his place in the Paul event, citing charges including false imprisonment, battery and attempted kidnapping.

Now, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza has informed respected boxing journalist Salvador Rodriguez that the WBA ‘intends to take swift action’ as they analyse Davis’ status as their lightweight champion.

⚠️⚠️⚠️ WBA analiza estancia de Gervonta Davis como su campeón de peso Ligero tras problemas legales ⚠️⚠️⚠️

El presidente @WBABoxing, @GilberticoWBA, confirmó a @ESPNKnockOut que el comité de campeonatos pretende tomar pronta acción. pic.twitter.com/cejM3pQWYc

— Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN) January 15, 2026

As a result, it is expected that Davis may soon be stripped of his title, leaving number one contender Floyd Schofield and WBA #2 Lucas Bahdi as the expected participants in a scrap for the vacant belt.

Both Schofield and Bahdi remain undefeated in their respective professional careers, but 23-year-old Schofield would be expected to enter the ring as the favourite, following on from his impressive first-round beatdown of Tevin Farmer in his solitary outing of 2025.

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