Following the biggest win of his career against against Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis’ future in boxing could be in limbo pending his May 5 court date.
Davis recently appeared in court for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run incident in November 2020. Davis pleaded guilty to four traffic offenses, though the judge rejected a plea agreement that would have ensured no jail time.
Davis will be sentenced on May 5. He is facing 14 charges after being accused of fleeing the scene of an accident that involved multiple people, including a pregnant woman.
Davis could face up to seven years in prison if charged.
MORE: Is Tank the new face of boxing?
“Tank” has had an extensive legal history stemming from incidents outside the ring. In addition to the charges he is facing, on December 27, 2022, Davis was arrested and booked into Broward County’s Main Jail Bureau in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on one account of Battery Causing Bodily Harm. Davis was then released after the accuser walked back claiming against him. After the accuser retracted her statement, Davis was able to defend the WBA regular lightweight against Hector Luis Garcia (TKO 9) in January.
On April 22, Davis beat Garcia (KO 7) in a fight that earned a reported 1.2 million PPV buys and a $22.8 million gate, the fifth-largest gate for boxing in Nevada history. Many heralded Davis the new face of boxing. However, that could change if he is charged.
Below is a basic timeline of the legal situations surrounding Davis over the years, and what the future could hold for him.
Timeline of Gervonta Davis’ legal history
In 2017, an arrest warrant was issued after Davis was accused of first-degree aggravated assault, later changing to misdemeanor second-degree assault. The arrest came after childhood friend Anthony Wheeler stated Davis punched his head. The charges were later dropped.
In 2018, Davis was arrested during an alleged street fight. Both men involved, including Davis, were arrested for disorderly conduct.
MORE: Ryan Garcia talks potential ‘mole’ in fight camp
In 2020, Davis was arrested and charged in a Miami-Dade County court with misdemeanor counts of simple battery domestic violence following the release of a video showing him aggressively grabbing the mother of his child at a charity basketball game. The prosecution would later abandon the charges.
Most recently, on December 27, Davis was booked into a Broward County jail in Florida on one charge of an alleged Battery Causing Bodily Harm. It was reported that he struck a woman on the right side of her head, possibly using what was described by police as a “closed hand type slap.” The blow left her with “a small abrasion to the inside of her upper lip on the right side of her mouth.”
TMZ later released exclusive audio of the phone call between the woman accusing Davis and 911, saying she was in danger as she attempted to get to the car.
“Please help me, I need help, please!” she said. “I’m trying to go home. I have my baby in the car and he attacked me in front of the kid. And now he’s messing up my tires… He’s going to kill me!”
MORE: Why is Gervonta Davis called ‘Tank’?
The accuser then retracted the statement right before New Year’s Eve. Representatives of Showtime or PBC did not comment on the matter. He still fought Hector Luis Garcia, beating him via TKO in round nine. Per Mike Coppingerthe alleged victim asked the court to dismiss charges.
Davis could face up to seven years in prison over the hit-and-run incident if charged.
The Sporting News will provide updates when more information is released on the matter.