Gervonta Davis, also known as ‘Tank’, is an undefeated American boxer from Baltimore, MD, who has held multiple world championships in three weight classes.
He is known for his exceptional punching power and counterpunching ability, with a 93.1% knockout percentage.
Davis began his professional career in 2013 and has since fought in several pay-per-view bouts, generating significant revenue.
He is currently the WBA lightweight champion and is ranked as one of the best active lightweights by various boxing organizations.
Davis has a successful amateur background, having won numerous national championships before turning professional.
He is trained by Calvin Ford, who was the inspiration for the character Dennis “Cutty” Wise on the hit HBO television show The Wire.
| Net worth | $10 million |
| Date of birth | November 7, 1994 |
| Profession | Boxer |
| Nationality | American |
Background
Davis was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on November 7, 1994, to parents Garrin Davis and Kenya Brown.
His mother struggled with drug abuse, and Davis witnessed challenging circumstances growing up, including being separated from his family and experiencing violence.
Despite these hardships, he found his way to boxing at an early age, where his talent and determination led him to become a prominent figure in the sport, holding multiple world titles across different weight classes.
Net worth
Davis’ net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, according to various sources.
His career earnings are estimated to be somewhere in the region of millions, primarily derived from his boxing career and brand endorsements.
Davis has secured a multi-year endorsement contract with a prominent sportswear company, further boosting his income.
Despite his financial success, Davis’ career has been marked by controversies outside the ring, particularly concerning legal issues, which could potentially influence his future earnings and endorsements.
Under Armour deal
Davis signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour in May 2017, joining fellow boxers Anthony Joshua and Canelo Álvarez on the brand’s roster.
Under Armour, based in Baltimore, featured Davis on billboards to announce the partnership, replacing Michael Phelps as the face of the brand in the city.
The deal has been a significant source of income for Davis, who has made a name for himself as a knockout artist.
Car collection
Davis’ car collection includes a customized USSV Rhino GX, two Lamborghini vehicles – the Urus and Aventador.
Amateur career
At the age of five, Davis began training at Upton Boxing Center with Calvin Ford, who became his longtime coach.
His amateur career was marked by success, finishing with a record of 206-15.
Davis won numerous championships, including the National Silver Gloves Championships three times in a row from 2006 to 2008, the National Junior Olympic gold medals and the Ringside world championships twice.
He also won the 2012 National Golden Gloves Championship.
Davis’ amateur career culminated in an impressive unbeaten record of 221–5.
Notably, his amateur success set the stage for his professional career, where he has continued to dominate.
Pro career
Following his debut in 2013, Davis has maintained an unbeaten record of 29-0, with 27 of his wins coming from knockouts.
He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF super featherweight title, the WBA lightweight title and the WBA (Super) super featherweight title.
Davis has also won the WBA (Regular) lightweight title and the WBA (Super) super-featherweight title.
He has earned a reputation as a knockout artist, with his powerful left hand and southpaw stance being his greatest assets.
Davis has secured impressive victories against notable opponents such as José Pedraza, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Leo Santa Cruz, Mario Barrios and Isaac Cruz.
His most recent fight was against Hector Luis Garcia, which he won via TKO in the first round.
‘Tank’ nickname
Davis earned the nickname ‘Tank’ due to his physical appearance as a young boxer.
One of his coaches gave him this moniker because his head was notably oversized compared to his body, and the name stuck with him throughout his career.
This nickname was fitting as Davis displayed exceptional power and dominance in the ring, often overwhelming his opponents with his boxing skills and strength.
The name ‘Tank’ became synonymous with his fighting style, highlighting his ability to crush his adversaries and establish himself as a formidable force in the boxing world.
Boxing style
Davis adopts a Southpaw stance, which gives him an advantage due to the scarcity of Southpaw fighters.
He conserves energy by delivering knockout blows with a low volume of punches, relying on his counter-punching strategy and keen observation of opponents’ tendencies and openings.
Davis is also a master at working the body to manipulate his opponents’ guard and inflict damage, eventually leading to powerful headshots and knockouts.
His defensive skills are impressive, with notable head movement and footwork, enabling him to angle out when in danger or after throwing a punch.
Davis’ jab is particularly effective, as he often leaves it out to maintain better vision and block one of his opponent’s hands.
His style has earned him multiple world championships in three weight classes and a reputation as a formidable boxer.
Notable fights
Davis’ most notable fights include his first world title win against Jose Pedraza in 2017, where he claimed the IBF super featherweight title.
In 2018, he defeated Jesus Marcello Andres Cuellar to claim the WBA super featherweight title.
Davis’ clash with Leo Santa Cruz in 2020 was his first on PPV, where he made a statement with a knockout punch that went viral, claiming the WBA super featherweight title.
In 2023, he stopped Ryan Garcia in one of the biggest fights of the year, becoming the face of boxing in the U.S.
Ryan Garcia fights
Davis and Garcia fought on April 22, 2023, with Davis winning by a seventh-round knockout.
The fight generated over $100 million in revenue, with Garcia earning $30 million and Davis likely earning $40-50 million.
The event sold over 1.2 million pay-per-view (PPV) units and had a $22.8 million gate, making it one of the highest-grossing PPV boxing events of all time.
Davis could have earned around $10 million, including the fight deal, PPV and 50% of the tickets sold at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia, despite the loss, received $5 million due to Davis’s generosity, as Davis waived his right to the winnings from their winner-takes-all bet
Pay-per-view bouts
Davis has featured in several pay-per-view (PPV) bouts, with his first PPV fight taking place against Leo Santa Cruz in October 2020, which reportedly drew around 200,000 PPV buys.
His subsequent PPV fights against Mario Barrios, Isaac Cruz, Rolando Romero and Hector Garcia have also been successful.
The Davis vs. Barrios fight reportedly drawing around 210,000 PPV buys, the Davis vs. Romero fight drawing around 275,000 PPV buys and the Davis vs. Hector Garcia fight drawing around 210,000 PPV buys.
Davis’ most recent PPV fight against Ryan Garcia in April 2023 reportedly drew over a whopping $1.2 million pay-per-view (PPV) buys and is potentially the fifth-best gate in Nevada fighting history.
Legal issues
In 2019, Davis was charged with misdemeanor assault following an alleged altercation at a mall in Virginia.
In 2020, he faced charges of simple battery domestic violence in Florida after a video showed him forcefully grabbing the mother of his child during a basketball game.
Davis was also arrested in December 2022 for battery causing bodily harm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Additionally, he has had run-ins with the law involving hit-and-run charges and violating the terms of his house arrest.
Converting to Islam
Davis converted to Islam in a ceremony at a Maryland mosque, adopting the name Abdul Wahid.
Following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, he embraced his new faith publicly, receiving support from the Islamic community.
This significant personal journey reflects his commitment to self-improvement and spiritual growth, aligning with the core values of Islam.
Davis’ decision to convert was driven by a desire to heal his soul and find a deeper sense of purpose.
