WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis has been arrested in Miami in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident after a two-week search by law enforcement authorities. Miami Gardens Police confirmed that a warrant was issued for the 31-year-old American boxer on 15 January, charging him with false imprisonment, battery and attempted kidnapping in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred in October.
Davis was taken into custody on Wednesday, with bail set at $16,000 (£11,500). Police said officers worked closely with the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force over the past two weeks to locate Davis and determine his whereabouts before making the arrest.
In a statement released earlier in January, Miami Gardens Police detailed the alleged events that led to the charges. According to the statement, Davis allegedly “grabbed” the victim “by the back of her hair with one hand and by her throat with the other,” before “forcefully” attempting to move her. Police added that the alleged assault was supported by video evidence, saying: “Lead detective Gary Florencio obtained and viewed video surveillance footage that corroborates key elements of the victim’s statement.”
Alongside the criminal case, Davis is also facing a civil lawsuit filed in October by his former girlfriend, Courtney Rossel. The lawsuit accuses the boxer of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Rossel is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $50,000 (£38,100) and has requested a jury trial.
The civil lawsuit had an immediate impact on Davis’ boxing career. He had been scheduled to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an exhibition bout in Miami on 14 November, but the fight was cancelled shortly after the lawsuit became public.
This arrest is the latest in a series of legal issues involving the undefeated boxer. Six months ago, another former girlfriend dropped a domestic violence case against him. Davis was previously arrested on domestic battery charges in February 2020 and again in December 2022.
In addition, Davis served 44 days in jail in 2023 after violating the terms of a 90-day house arrest sentence. That sentence was related to a criminal hit-and-run case that occurred in his hometown of Baltimore in November 2020.
Davis has yet to comment publicly on the latest allegations or his arrest.
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