American professional boxer Gervonta Davis converted to Islam in December 2023. Davis, who is nicknamed ‘Tank’, was reportedly a Christian. However, some happenings in his life led him to convert his religion and take up Islam.
In December 2023, a video of Davis ‘saying the shahadah’, a process needed to convert to Islam, went viral. ‘Tank’ received several congratulatory messages from other fighters and fans.
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Davis was born in Baltimore on November 7, 1994. Born and raised in a crime-ridden area, Davis attended a magnet school but dropped out to focus on his boxing career. He had a difficult childhood as his mother was involved in drugs and his father was imprisoned. Davis moved through foster homes but that led him to a successful career in boxing.
Calvin Ford coached Davis and the young boxer went on to achieve several accolades in his amateur career. He won many national championships including the 2012 National Golden Gloves Championship. According to the Ring Magazine, Davis ended his illustrious amateur career with an impressive record of 206–15.
The American fighter, who is reportedly of African-American ethnicity, won his first professional bout via first-round KO in February 2013. He went on to hold multiple world championships in three weight classes.
Gervonta Davis has a cross tattooed on his right arm
Davis is a famous name in the boxing industry, however, information about his personal life is scarce. It was difficult to ascertain whether he was, in fact, a Christian. The tattoo on the right side of his right bicep, however, gave it away. A cross is tattooed on Davis’ right arm which all but confirmed his faith.
Davis, who has been through numerous legal issues in his life, has over 20 tattoos on his body. He has tattoos of a pair of boxing gloves, a gorilla’s face, playing cards, and a bunny, among others. You can find out more about his tattoos here.
It is, however, unclear why Davis converted to Islam. His conversion took place just a few months after he defeated Ryan Garcia in April 2023. Although none of his titles were being defended on the night, his bout against Garcia was a highly anticipated one. Davis showed his superiority by defeating Garcia via KO in the seventh round.
