The WBA has officially reshaped the lightweight title picture. The sanctioning body announced that Gervonta “Tank” Davis has been designated as its Champion in Recess, while undefeated contenders Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi have been ordered to fight for the vacant WBA lightweight championship.
In a statement announcing the move. The WBA cited Davis’ legal situation as the primary reason for placing the Baltimore native in recess. “The Championships Committee of the pioneering organization reviewed Davis’ legal situation and reached its decision after determining that the ongoing proceedings could prevent him from fulfilling his championship obligations in the short and medium term.”
Under WBA rules, Davis will retain special status and be entitled to an immediate title shot against the eventual champion once he is cleared to return.
Legal Issues Continue to Cloud Davis’ Career
Davis’ status has remained uncertain following multiple legal developments over the past several months. On Oct. 30, Davis’ former girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, filed a civil lawsuit in Miami-Dade County alleging aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from an alleged incident on Oct. 27 at Tootsie’s Cabaret in Miami.
Rossel alleges Davis forcibly removed her from the nightclub before assaulting her in a nearby parking garage. The undefeated knockout artist was later arrested on Jan. 28 by the Miami Gardens Police Department alongside the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force after an arrest warrant had been issued earlier in the month.
Despite those legal challenges. Reports in recent weeks indicated Davis was planning a return to the ring before negotiations ultimately stalled.
Schofield and Bahdi Get Their Opportunity
With Davis unable to defend the championship, the WBA has turned to its top two contenders. Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) enters the title opportunity riding the momentum of an impressive first-round knockout of former world champion Tevin Farmer in June 2025.
The unbeaten 22-year-old has long been viewed as one of America’s brightest lightweight prospects and now has the opportunity to capture his first world championship.
Standing across the ring will be another undefeated contender. Canada’s Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 14 KOs) has steadily climbed the rankings, most recently earning a convincing unanimous decision over former world champion Roger Gutierrez last August.
The title fight represents the biggest opportunity of Bahdi’s professional career.
Lightweight Division Continues to Evolve
Before the WBA’s announcement, Davis had been ordered to defend his championship against Schofield. Negotiations between the two camps reportedly progressed for several weeks before eventually collapsing, prompting the sanctioning body to intervene.
Now, instead of challenging the champion, Schofield will battle Bahdi for the vacant title while Davis watches from the sidelines. Whenever “Tank” returns to active competition, he will have the opportunity to immediately reclaim the championship he never lost inside the ring.
Until then, the lightweight division will crown a new WBA champion. With two undefeated contenders ready to seize the biggest moment of their careers.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
