Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson’s conversion to Islam defined their careers in many ways. Now Davis has joined their path. Sweden-born WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack, shared a tweet early today. In the post, he welcomed lightweight champion and boxing star Gervonta Davis to Islam. His message read, “Welcome to Islam, brother Gervontaa. Alhamdulillah.” A half-minute-long video accompanied the tweet. It showed Davis and a few of his companions reciting after the elder.
A few channels on YouTube, such as FightHype.com, had also shared the short clip, “Gervonta Davis BECOMES A MUSLIM; CONVERTS to Islam after taking SHAHADAH.” Akhi TV also welcomed the young boxer’s decision and pinned a message on their channel: “Alhmdallah, Gervonta is now a MUSLIM Mashallah. Welcome Tank to the brotherhood.”
As per several reports, Davis was Christian before converting to Islam. In fact, he even has a cross tattoo on his right arm. Did you know religion was one of the discussions leading up to the Davis and Ryan Garcia fight in April 2023? Garcia considers himself a devout Christian, but Davis thinks differently. “I praise God in everything, but he (Garcia) drink a lot, gamble a lot. He do all this stuff.”
Clearly, religion and spirituality have a deep meaning in his life. He has now joined many other boxing legends, such as ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, and others, who embraced Islam.
Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay. After the first Sonny Liston fight on February 25, 1964, he announced his conversion to Islam. He later refused to join the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Calling himself a ‘conscientious objector,’ he reportedly said, “War is against the teachings of the Holy Quran. I’m not trying to dodge the draft. We are supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger.”
As a result of the stand he took, he lost his titles and stayed out of boxing for over three years.
