Gervonta Davis Reinvents Himself: From Boxing Star to Abdul Wahid
Gervonta Davis, a renowned boxer from Baltimore and now a convert to Islam, held the conversion ceremony at one of Maryland’s mosques. In the ceremony at Masjid Al-Hidaayah in Woodlawn, Davis performed the shahada – the Islamic testimony of faith – and embraced a Muslim name: Abdul Wahid—the slave of the one.
The disclosure was revealed in a video uploaded by fellow boxer Badou Jack on X and had people talking.
The reaction of the Islamic community to this post was positive, with words of congratulations and welcome.
Holding an impressive record of 29-0, Davis is regarded as one the most popular boxers. Although he is successful, he has not won an undisputed lightweight title or become a unified champion. He last fought in April of the previous year, where he knocked out Ryan Garcia via TKO.
His future opponents are still not known, but there is talk of a fight with Garcia or matches against Haney and Shakur Stevenson. Since the newly crowned WBA lightweight champion, Davis will have to defend his title in 2024.
However, Davis is not the only notable boxer to have embraced Islam. One of the most renowned pugilists in boxing history was a Muslim, and Muhammad Ali changing his name became an important concern during one of his famous bouts against Ernest Terrell who insisted to address Clay by birth.
One of the most feared heavyweights in boxing history is Mike Tyson, a renowned Muslim boxer. In contrast, although Tyson converted to Islam before his imprisonment in 1992 he never changed his name officially. But he was said to have taken Malik Abdul Aziz as his name.
Breaking News: Gervonta Davis @gervontaa chose the Muslim name Abdul Wahid (the slave of The One) today at Masjid Hidayah with Imam Hassan Somali and Raha Batts. May Allah preserve them all pic.twitter.com/VUmpUwRO6g
— Mutah Beale مطاع بيل (@MutahNapoleon) December 28, 2023