BoxRec

WBA ORDERS GERVONTA DAVIS VS. FLOYD SCHOFIELD

If Gervonta Davis wants to remain WBA lightweight champion, he’ll have to face Floyd Schofield.

The sanctioning body has officially ordered the Baltimore native to face Schofield, the No. 1 contender, in a mandatory contest. Both sides were informed Saturday of the WBA’s decision. They have until June 22 to come to an agreement. If one can't be made, a purse bid will be called.

Schofield hasn't fought since a first-round KO over former champion, Tevin Farmer, last June.

Davis hasn't been in action since drawing with Lamont Roach in March 2025. A few days later, Davis officially triggered his immediate rematch clause, but later elected to fight Jake Paul in an exhibition.

The clash with Paul never came to fruition as Davis' ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel filed a civil lawsuit in Miami-Dade County, Florida, accusing Davis of aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Davis was arrested in January after a warrant was issued on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.

As reported by The Ring earlier this year, however, Davis has been working on his return. Talks have been ongoing between his camp and Isaac Cruz, who he beat by decision in 2021.

Where is the winner going ?
Schofield pulled out of the Vergil Ortiz Jr v Lubin event a week or so before
If it leads to Tank v Shakur I'm in let's go

Gervonta Davis has just 15 days to make fight with undefeated rival or risk losing world title

Gervonta Davis’ most recent legal trouble seems to be impacting his return to boxing and may see him lose his world title entirely.

‘Tank’ last fought in March of 2025, retaining his WBA lightweight world title via a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr. An exhibition fight with Jake Paul later in the year was cancelled when he was accused of domestic violence.

In January, the sanctioning body named Davis ‘champion in recess’ and looked set to order a vacant title bout between Floyd Schoefild and Lucas Bahdi, but instead, as talk of the Baltimore champion’s return began to heat up, ordered him to face Schofield instead.

Speaking to Mill City Boxing recently, Schofield’s father and trainer said that talks are not currently ongoing, perhaps due to Davis’ fresh legal situation, and that he and his son are waiting for the negotiation period to end for the WBA to make a decision.

“We can’t do anything until the WBA says. [We’re] supposed to be in negotiations for another 20 days with Tank’s people, but according to what the lawyers say, they can’t be in negotiations right now. So, [we’re] in limbo for 20 more days while they got that mandate up. Tank’s people got to make a fight with us within 20 days.”

From Schofield’s update, Davis’ grip on the WBA title appears increasingly uncertain, with the sanctioning body potentially forced to make a decision if the teams fail to make progress. The allotted negotiation period ends on June 22, at which point purse bids could be called, though only if ‘Tank’ is willing and able to defend his belt.

Schofield is undefeated in 19 bouts and, at 23 years old, has a bright future in the sport. His previous world title challenge against Shakur Stevenson was cancelled during fight week when he took unwell.

Gervonta Davis-Floyd Schofield Jnr talks intensifying

With a ticking deadline to strike a deal, a proposed Gervonta Davis versus Floyd Schofield Jr., WBA lightweight title fight is being negotiated, two officials close to the situation told Boxing Scene Monday.

The individuals said Davis’ promoter, Premier Boxing Champions, has initiated contract negotiations by reaching out to Schofield’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

The sides are targeting a date in mid-September to early October.

Texas’ Schofield Jr., 19-0 (13 KOs), nicknamed “Kid Austin,” has risen to No. 1 contender in the WBA after most recently knocking out veteran former super-featherweight champion Tevin Farmer one year ago this month.

Former three-division champion Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs), has been absent since his controversial March 1, 2025, draw against former super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr., at New York’s Barclays Center.

In that bout, referee Steve Willis failed to reward Roach with a knockdown that would’ve given him the victory had it occurred. Davis has been beset by legal trouble since, facing criminal and civil cases for his alleged physical abuse of a former partner at her place of business.

The sides have been given until June 22 by the WBA to strike a deal before the bout would be sent to purse bid. If Davis doesn’t fight Schofield for his former belt that now sits vacant, Schofield, 23, becomes champion.

One official involved in the talks told Boxing Scene, “I think we can make it work. I bet we have something done. We don’t want to go to purse bid.”

Schofield’s father-trainer, Floyd Schofield Sr,, told Boxing Scene a potential Davis bout is “a huge fight for Floyd Jr., … he’s obviously looking sharp.

“It's a dangerous matchup, but we feel good. We’ve worked our behind off from being homeless to get to this, and ‘Kid’ holds two [minor] WBA titles already. So, you know, it's just the next step to see on our road of greatness.”

Schofield Sr., said he doesn’t believe rust is an issue for Davis, 31, because “we know he’s stayed in the gym.

“Tank’ is doing everything like he had a fight coming up already. ‘Tank’ is still a dangerous fighter. It’s going to be one hell of a fight, a great fight for the fans.”

Schofield Jr., has sought a shot at Davis since he signed with Golden Boy, his father has said. It dates to an occasion when Davis visited a gym that included an older stablemate friend of Schofield, who was knocked out by Davis during the session.

“We want the fight, and we’re going to win the fight,” Schofield Sr., said.

‘Maybe down the road’: Oscar De La Hoya pumps the brakes on Gervonta Davis vs Floyd Schofield talk

Don’t expect to actually see Tank Davis vs Floyd Schofield any time soon

Any hope some may have for a fight between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Floyd Schofield for the WBA lightweight title looks like it will have to wait.

There were already pretty public cracks forming in that plan, not to mention the fact that Davis (30-0-1, 28 KO) hasn’t fought since in 15 months after his controversial draw with Lamont Roach Jr in March 2025, nor, frankly, that Schofield (19-0, 13 KO) hasn’t fought in a year himself.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya doesn’t outright say that the fight isn’t happening, but comes as close to that as is needed to know the fight is not happening. At least not any time soon.

“I love the fight. I love the fight for Schofield, I love the fight for Gervonta. Gervonta is one of the best fighters out there today, I love Gervonta,” De La Hoya said tonight during Golden Boy’s DAZN card.

“But the fact of the matter is, Gervonta is a champion in recess. That’s exactly what the WBA has said. So what we feel is, let Schofield fight the next available top contender, who could be maybe (Lucas) Bahdi, that would be a terrific fight for the full world title.

“Schofield will be a force to be reckoned with, a world champion, and maybe down the road, we can make that Gervonta fight happen.”

It should be noted that “champions in recess” are allowed to return and be reinstated as champion pretty easily if the involved parties want them to be able to just do so. We’ve seen the WBA do that with Seiya Tsutsumi and Antonio Vargas in recent months. Gervonta Davis has the sort of money-making potential that makes it a no-brainer that if, for instance, everyone really wanted it to happen, yes, Gervonta Davis would be reinstated as WBA champion and allowed to defend.

But there’s a lot more going on here, too. Asked if he has any information on Davis even being available, as Tank has been facing a number of legal issues outside of the ring, De La Hoya offered Davis his best wishes, and sort of framed that as another reason for Schofield to take a different WBA title fight instead — or, in reality, why Schofield may have to take a different fight instead, even if there really were desire on both sides to do the Tank fight next.

“(Tank) has to take care of his issues,” Oscar said. “And I understand if he does have issues, because every fighter goes through issues and problems. Maybe he’s trying to figure out life in general. I do wish him the best, I hope he does figure it out, because we do miss him in the ring. I hope that one day we get Floyd Schofield with Gervonta Davis.”