An arrest warrant has been issued for world champion boxer Gervonta "Tank" Davis in connection with serious domestic violence allegations, a situation that directly led to the high-profile cancellation of his planned exhibition bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Details of the Allegations and Warrant
The warrant, confirmed by the Miami Gardens Police Department in Florida, relates to an incident alleged to have occurred on October 27. Davis faces charges including false imprisonment, battery, and attempted kidnapping, following accusations made by his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel.
In a civil lawsuit, Ms. Rossel claims Davis attacked her at her workplace and had previously threatened to kill her. The legal filing further alleges he "physically assaulted and choked" her on at least four other occasions. She is seeking $50,000 in damages and a jury trial.
Executive Officer Emmanuel Jeanty of the Miami Gardens Police stated that authorities are actively working with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Davis. "Domestic violence is a serious crime, and the Miami Gardens Police Department remains committed to holding offenders accountable and protecting victims," Jeanty said.
Police have indicated that surveillance footage supports the victim's account of the October event. "The investigation determined that Mr. Davis used force to restrain in an attempt to remove the victim from the location against her will," Jeanty added.
Impact on High-Profile Boxing Match
The fallout from these allegations had immediate consequences in the sporting world. Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, was scheduled to face social media star Jake Paul in a unique exhibition match in Miami on November 14 last year.
The fight, which would have used two human judges and an AI official if it went the distance, was cancelled by Most Valuable Promotions following the filing of the lawsuit. The promotion swiftly sought a new opponent for Paul, which ultimately became British boxing icon Anthony Joshua.
Paul was vocal in his criticism of Davis at the time, writing on social media: "Working with him is an absolute nightmare... To the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man you support the most vile sin a man can commit." He later labelled Davis a "walking human piece of garbage".
Joshua would go on to knock Paul out in the sixth round of their rescheduled bout in December.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Jeff Chukwuma, the attorney representing Courtney Rossel, told ESPN that the police findings align with their civil complaint. "What the police said is exactly in line with our lawsuit. So whatever investigation they did, they determined it was enough to get a judge to sign off on an arrest warrant," Chukwuma stated.
The case now involves both the ongoing criminal investigation, with law enforcement actively searching for Davis, and the parallel civil suit filed by Rossel. The boxing world awaits further developments as the legal process unfolds, casting a significant shadow over the career of one of the sport's most prominent champions.
