Dana White plans to work with Gervonta “Tank” Davis

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Top combat sports executive Dana White is aiming for a hard but feasible plan: bringing Gervonta “Tank” Davis back to boxing.

White, the UFC president and founder of Zuffa Boxing, revealed that his camp had already spoken with the former three-division world champion about a possible comeback fight.

“I do love Tank Davis,” White said during the press conference for Zuffa Boxing 9.

“I’m actually a fan, and we’ve talked to them. I don’t want to speak for him or whatever, but I have talked to him, and I’m a fan.”

Regarded as one of the most lethal knockout artists in the sport, Davis has been inactive for 17 months and has yet to return to the ring since his controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. on March 1, 2025.

Davis was supposed to fight Jake Paul in an exhibition scheduled for Nov. 14, 2025, but the event was canceled following a series of legal issues involving the undefeated boxer.

According to multiple reports, Davis faced allegations of domestic violence, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping following an incident at a Miami-area nightclub.

“Most Valuable Promotions immediately initiated an investigation upon learning of the civil lawsuit filed against Gervonta Davis in Miami-Dade County on October 30, 2025,” said the promotional body that handles the upcoming bout.

Since that incident, Davis has kept a low profile on social media and hasn’t booked a professional fight, with the World Boxing Association even reclassifying the star as a “Champion in Recess,” forcing him to surrender his lightweight belt.

Before the roller-coaster ride, Davis was among the top five pound-for-pound boxers from 2023 to 2024, his peak years when he was knocking out opponents.

At age 22, Davis became the youngest active champion by knocking out Jose Pedraza in 2017 to clinch the International Boxing Federation super featherweight title.

Davis immediately became a global sensation after defeating Leo Santa Cruz, Ryan Garcia, and Mario Barrios, which propelled him to two more titles in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions.

Can White weave his magic and arrange Davis’ return?