Gervonta Davis, the hard-hitting southpaw from Baltimore, has formally become a man of faith. A video circulating over the holiday showed Davis converting to Islam in a ceremony held at a mosque outside his hometown. The news was confirmed by The Brooklyn Banner, which spoke to Philadelphia-based Imam Hassan Abdi, who performed the rites. As part of the ritual, Davis also assumed a Muslim name, Abdul Wahid, which means “servant of the one.”
Last week, Davis held a press conference with city officials to announce his purchase of a slew of homes in his old West Baltimore neighborhood of Sandtown-Winchester with the intention to renovate for affordable housing. Unfortunately, not long after the presser, a video shared by Davis’ longtime trainer Calvin Ford showed that several of the homes had burned down from a fire.
Imam Abdi spoke highly of Davis, describing him as a humble, down-to-earth person. He noted that their conversation was about being the best versions of themselves as human beings. Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby also praised Davis, saying: “Tank, when he goes around the world, he literally carries the city of Baltimore on his back. For you to come back, invest in your hometown, invest in your community, and invest in your block—is truly, truly special.”
Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) last fought in April, when he knocked out Ryan Garcia inside seven rounds in their high-profile match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, Davis, 29, pleaded guilty to several counts of a hit-and-run incident stemming from 2020 and was sentenced to 90 days of home detention. But less than a month into his sentencing, Davis was jailed for violating the terms of his home detention. Davis was released after six weeks.
Gervonta Davis’ conversion to Islam is a major step in his spiritual journey. His new name, Abdul Wahid, encapsulates his commitment to being a servant of the one. We wish Davis the best of luck in the future and hope he continues to positively contribute to his hometown of Baltimore.
