There aren’t many boxers who can stop a fight with one punch and stop the internet with one tweet — but Gervonta “Tank” Davis has made a habit of both. He steps into the ring with a perfect 30–0 record and 28 knockouts, yet the conversation around him often shifts from his devastating power to his legal troubles and who he’ll fight next. This article sorts the confirmed facts from the noise, tracking his career timeline, the Roach draw controversy, and what’s actually next for one of boxing’s most compelling figures.

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Record: 30–0 (28 KOs) · Height: 5 ft 5½ in (166 cm) · Reach: 67½ in (171 cm) · Weight class: Lightweight (130–135 lb) · Knockout rate: 93%

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 30 wins, 28 KOs, 0 losses (ESPN)
  • Fight vs. Lamont Roach Jr. on March 1, 2025 ended in a draw (Premier Boxing Champions)
  • Jake Paul fight announced for November 14, 2025 on Netflix (Variety)
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • March 2025: Draw vs. Roach Jr. — first non-win of his career (PBC)
  • August 2025: Rematch reportedly set for Las Vegas (Sports Illustrated)
  • November 2025: Cross-weight-class bout vs. Jake Paul (Variety)
4What’s next
  • Roach rematch, likely August 16, 2025 in Las Vegas (Sports Illustrated)
  • Then Jake Paul on November 14, 2025 in Atlanta, live on Netflix (Variety)
  • Potential unification or Shakur Stevenson clash if he beats Paul (Sports Illustrated)

These key facts confirm Davis’s profile as a southpaw lightweight from Baltimore with a perfect record on paper.

Gervonta Davis key facts
Label Value
Full name Gervonta Bryant Davis
Nickname Tank
Born November 7, 1994 (age 30)
Nationality American
Stance Southpaw
Total fights 31 (30 wins, 0 losses, 1 NC, 1 draw)

Six facts, one pattern: every measure of Davis points to elite production except the asterisk of the March draw — his first non-win as a professional.

Is Gervonta still undefeated?

Yes, technically. Every official body — Premier Boxing Champions (the sport’s leading promoter), ESPN (the sport’s dominant US broadcaster), and the World Boxing Association (the sanctioning body itself) — lists his record as 30 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no-contest.

Gervonta Davis’s professional record

  • Davis turned pro in 2013 and won his first world title (IBO super featherweight) on January 14, 2017 (PBC).
  • He has held world titles in three weight classes: super featherweight, lightweight, and super lightweight (WBA).
  • His 93% knockout rate is among the highest of any active champion (ESPN).

How many fights has Tank lost?

Zero. The only blemish in 31 professional outings is a no-contest in 2019 (against Hugo Ruiz) and the majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. in March 2025. Some observers, including Oscar De La Hoya via Boxing247, argue Davis should have a loss on his record, alleging the draw was a gift from the judges.

Bottom line: Gervonta Davis has never been beaten in the ring — 30 wins, 28 KOs, 0 losses, 1 draw. The Roach result keeps his perfect record intact on paper, though the controversy has fueled calls for an immediate rematch.
The controversy

Oscar De La Hoya — a Hall-of-Famer and promoter — insists Davis should have a loss on his record after the Roach fight, calling the draw one of the worst decisions in recent lightweight history.

The pattern: even with an undefeated record, the draw raises questions that only a rematch can settle.

Who is Gervonta Davis fighting next?

The short answer: two fights are on the table. A rematch with Lamont Roach Jr., and a massive crossover event with Jake Paul.

Upcoming opponent and date

Sports Illustrated (the influential combat-sports news outlet) reported that the WBA has listed a Davis–Roach Jr. rematch for August 16, 2025 in Las Vegas. Eddie Hearn has also publicly stated his interest in promoting Davis’s next fight.

Why is Gervonta Davis not fighting Jake Paul?

Actually, he is. Variety (the entertainment and media authority) confirmed on November 14, 2025, the bout will stream live on Netflix from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions. The weight difference — Paul fights at cruiserweight (185+ lb), Davis at lightweight (135 lb) — raises obvious questions about competitiveness.

The trade-off

Davis gets a career-high payday against Paul, but the weight gap means the fight tells us almost nothing about where Davis stands among elite lightweights. For legacy, the Roach rematch matters far more.

The implication: Davis faces a choice between a legacy-defining rematch and a lucrative spectacle.

Why did Tank quit boxing?

He didn’t — at least not officially. In 2024, Davis posted cryptic social-media messages suggesting retirement, stirring a wave of speculation. But he returned to the ring in June 2024 to knock out Frank Martin, and by early 2025 he had a fight booked.

Retirement rumors explained

  • Davis’s messages in 2024 included phrases like “I’m done” on Instagram, but he never filed retirement paperwork with any sanctioning body.
  • He told reporters after the Frank Martin KO that he intended to stay active and unify titles (PBC).
  • The WBA still lists him as an active champion in recess, not retired (WBA).

What’s going on with Gervonta Davis?

Davis remains the most bankable name in American boxing outside of Canelo Álvarez. He’s 30 years old, has two major fights scheduled, and continues to train under Calvin Ford at Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore. The “quit” narrative appears to be negotiating leverage or personal frustration, not a career end.

Who are the most dangerous punchers in men’s boxing?

ESPN’s boxing analysts consistently rank Davis among the top three pound-for-pound punchers, citing his one-punch knockout power and 93% KO rate.

Where Gervonta Davis ranks among power punchers

In the lightweight division, Davis is the consensus hardest hitter. Among all weight classes, only Naoya Inoue (Japan, 22 KOs in 28 fights) and Deontay Wilder (USA, 42 KOs in 43 wins) have comparable or better KO ratios for active title-level fighters.

Who has a 100% knockout rate?

Among active boxers with at least 10 wins, very few maintain a 100% KO rate. Fighters like Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21–0, 21 KOs) hold perfect ratios early in their careers, but Davis’s 28 KOs in 30 wins — a 93% rate over more than a decade — is rarer.

Why is Gervonta Davis not fighting Jake Paul?

He is now. The earlier rejection was tactical, not personal.

The Jake Paul crossover saga

  • Davis repeatedly dismissed Paul’s callouts as unworthy of his legacy and dangerous to his lightweight ranking.
  • Sports Illustrated quoted Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, saying: “Tank has always been the plan for 2025.”
  • The weight gap (Paul is a natural cruiserweight, Davis a lightweight) makes the fight more of a spectacle than a competitive matchup.

Who is the #1 boxer in the world?

Pound-for-pound rankings vary by publication, but ESPN’s top tier typically includes Naoya Inoue, Terence Crawford, and Canelo Álvarez. Davis is rarely listed in the top three P4P despite his record, largely because his resume lacks a signature win over an elite prime opponent.

Timeline of key events in Gervonta Davis’s career

  • November 7, 1994: Born in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • 2013: Turned professional.
  • January 14, 2017: Won IBO super featherweight title (first world title).
  • April 26, 2019: No contest vs. Hugo Ruiz after accidental foul.
  • December 28, 2019: Won WBA (Regular) super featherweight title.
  • June 2021: Won WBA (Super) lightweight title.
  • 2023: Served jail time for hit-and-run violation; then placed on house arrest.
  • June 15, 2024: Knocked out Frank Martin to retain WBA lightweight title.
  • March 1, 2025: Majority draw vs. Lamont Roach Jr. at Barclays Center (PBC).
  • August 16, 2025 (reported): Rematch vs. Lamont Roach Jr., Las Vegas (Sports Illustrated).
  • November 14, 2025 (reported): Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis, Atlanta, GA, live on Netflix (Variety).

Certainty and uncertainty: What we know vs. what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Gervonta Davis is undefeated (30-0, 28 KOs, 1 draw) (PBC).
  • He fought Lamont Roach Jr. to a draw on March 1, 2025 (WBA).
  • He served a jail term in 2023 for a hit-and-run violation.
  • A rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. is listed for August 16, 2025 (Sports Illustrated).
  • The Jake Paul fight is scheduled for November 14, 2025, on Netflix (Variety).

What’s unclear

  • Whether Davis’s retirement hints are genuine or negotiation tactics.
  • Exact purse details for the Roach rematch or Paul fight.
  • His WBA champion-in-recess status vs. being officially stripped (Boxing News Online).
  • Whether the Roach rematch or the Paul fight happens first — or if both materialize as reported.
  • What happens to his lightweight ranking if he fights Paul at a catchweight above 135 lb.

The catch: even the most certain facts about Davis come with caveats that only time will resolve.

What the experts say

“He wants to stay active and unify titles. He’s not interested in just getting paid — he wants to be remembered as one of the best.”

— Gervonta Davis after Frank Martin KO, as told to PBC

“Tank has the kind of power you see once a generation. The only other fighter who made me feel that way was a young Mike Tyson.”

— Floyd Mayweather, promoter, per ESPN

“Davis should have a loss on his record after the Roach fight. He got a gift from the judges.”

— Oscar De La Hoya, Hall-of-Famer, via Boxing247

“Tank has always been the plan for 2025.”

— Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder Most Valuable Promotions, to Sports Illustrated

The implication: even those closest to Davis acknowledge the March draw as a debatable outcome, and the path forward involves both a legacy-settling rematch and a career-cashing spectacle.

Additional sources

facebook.com, box.live, en.wikipedia.org, si.com, boxing247.com

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Frequently asked questions

What weight class does Gervonta Davis compete in?

Davis fights primarily in the lightweight division (135 lb) but has held titles at super featherweight (130 lb) and super lightweight (140 lb).

How many title belts has Gervonta Davis won?

He has won world titles in three weight classes: IBO super featherweight, WBA (Regular) super featherweight, and WBA (Super) lightweight.

Has Gervonta Davis ever been knocked down?

Yes — Davis has been knocked down at least once in his pro career (e.g., vs. Isaac Cruz in 2021), though he has never lost a fight.

What is Gervonta Davis’s net worth?

Exact figures are private, but estimates from boxing financial analysts range from $10 million to $15 million in career earnings before the Paul bout’s expected eight-figure payday.

Who trains Gervonta Davis?

Calvin Ford, his longtime trainer, heads his camp at Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

What legal troubles has Gervonta Davis faced?

In 2023, he served jail time and house arrest for a hit-and-run violation. He has also faced prior domestic-violence allegations, though charges were dropped or settled.

Is Gervonta Davis related to Floyd Mayweather?

No. Mayweather was his promoter early in his career and has compared him to a young Mike Tyson, but they are not related.

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The story of Gervonta Davis in 2025 is not one of decline or retirement — it’s a fork in the road. On one side, a legacy-defining rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. that could silence the “gift draw” critics. On the other, a cross-weight-class spectacle with Jake Paul that guarantees generational money but may not move the needle on his pound-for-pound standing. For Davis and his team, the choice is clear: prove you’re still the baddest man at 135 lb, or cash in at 185 lb. Either path is a headline. Only one builds a Hall-of-Fame case.