Undefeated in 31 professional fights, Gervonta “Tank” Davis is widely regarded as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound stars. Known for his massive drawing power at the gate and in pay-per-view sales, Davis recently had one of the most questioned performances of his career, earning a split draw against Lamont Roach on March 1st while defending his WBA lightweight title.
That result ended a perfect streak of 30 consecutive wins since his pro debut on February 22, 2013, when he knocked out Desi Williams in the first round. Of those victories, 28 came by knockout, a testament to his explosive punching power and reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport.
Despite his knockout prowess, Tank’s pick for the greatest boxer ever leans toward style and skill over brute force. Gervonta Davis named Floyd Mayweather—the undefeated five-division world champion with a 50–0 record—as the greatest to ever step into the ring.
Earlier this year, when asked by Ringside Views to name his top five fighters of all time, Davis didn’t hesitate to list Money Mayweather at No. 1. The rest of his list included Sugar Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Aaron Pryor, and Mike Tyson.
A relationship strained over time
Davis began his professional career under the guidance of Mayweather, who acted as his mentor and promoter. For years, Davis was seen as Mayweather’s prized protégé. However, their relationship began to fracture during the build-up to Davis’ May 2022 bout against Rolly Romero.
Following his sixth-round TKO victory in that fight, Davis announced he was leaving Mayweather Promotions, stating that he felt it was time to take control of his own career. Mayweather reportedly saw the decision as a betrayal and a sign of ingratitude.
Yet Davis has never denied the impact Mayweather had on his career. After Mayweather was notably absent for Tank’s bout against Hector Garcia in January 2023, he reappeared in Davis’ corner for the high-profile showdown against Ryan Garcia in April, where Davis won by seventh-round knockout.
“He just gave me great words. Told me to stay calm,” Davis said at the post-fight press conference. “I always like listening to Floyd when it comes to big moments like this, because he’s the only one who’s been in my shoes and has fought on this kind of stage. He just helped keep me grounded and on the right path. So I’ll always appreciate Floyd for being in my corner and backing me, always.”
Mayweather’s daughter at the center of the rift
While some of the tension stemmed from Mayweather’s limited presence during the Romero fight promotion, Davis recently suggested that rumors about a possible relationship with Mayweather’s daughter contributed to the fallout.
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“I don’t want to get too deep into that because I don’t want to bring it back,” Davis admitted. “But they were saying I was involved with his daughter because she kept messaging me on Snapchat. She kept sending messages, so someone showed them to Floyd and he lost his mind. These are things people on the outside don’t see.”