The future of Gervonta Davis’ boxing career remains uncertain, but a potential path back to the ring could lead to a significant jump in weight class. Despite ongoing legal issues and the loss of his WBA lightweight title, the 31-year-old remains a target for welterweight champion Devin Haney, according to his father and trainer, Bill Haney. This development comes as Davis navigates a civil lawsuit alleging violent behavior, battery, and kidnapping, which led to the cancellation of his scheduled bout with Jake Paul.
Davis’ last official fight was a controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. In March 2025, a result many observers believed should have gone to Roach. Since then, his boxing activities have been stalled. He was arrested following the allegations in the civil suit, and subsequently stripped of his WBA lightweight world title, as reported by the BBC. The situation has left his return to the sport in limbo, but Haney’s comments suggest a potential opportunity awaits him at a higher weight.
Speaking on the “All The Smoke Fight” podcast, Bill Haney revealed that Davis is at the top of his son’s list of potential opponents in the welterweight division. “It’s about 10 names on the list. Tank is at the top of it, maybe Shakur [Stevenson] is next. Jaron Ennis. I suppose Conor Benn might be on there, towards the bottom, you know what I mean?” Haney said, also mentioning Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman, and Keyshawn Davis as potential contenders. This indicates a willingness from the Haney camp to pursue a fight with Davis despite the current challenges surrounding the fighter.
Though, a move to welterweight would represent a considerable challenge for Davis. He has previously fought as high as super-lightweight, securing a win against Mario Barrios in 2021, but welterweight is a heavier division. He would likely be undersized against most of the top contenders, including Haney. This potential weight jump adds another layer of complexity to an already uncertain situation.
The WBA lightweight title is set to be contested on Saturday, April 11, though the event is potentially threatened by an ongoing lawsuit between Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz, according to Boxing News Online. This adds further uncertainty to the lightweight landscape, whereas Davis’ future remains tied to the resolution of his legal issues.
Devin Haney, who won the title from Brian Norman Jr. In November, becoming a three-weight champion, has also expressed interest in facing other prominent boxers, including Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, and Conor Benn. This suggests Haney is open to a variety of options, but Davis currently holds the top spot on his list.
Lamont Roach Jr., who fought to a draw with Davis in March 2025, has also voiced his frustration with the situation. According to Sports Illustrated, Roach criticized Davis’ explanation for choosing to fight Jake Paul instead of a rematch, calling it evasive. The boxing community largely favored a rematch between Davis and Roach, but that prospect appears to have been sidelined by the legal issues and the pursuit of the fight with Paul, which ultimately fell apart.
The cancellation of the Davis-Paul fight, initially scheduled for November 14, 2025, further complicated matters. The fight was scrapped after Davis was named in the civil lawsuit, as reported by DAZN. The lawsuit alleges disturbing behavior, and its outcome will likely play a significant role in determining Davis’ immediate future.
As Davis’ legal situation unfolds, the possibility of a welterweight title fight with Devin Haney remains a potential, albeit challenging, path forward. The boxing world awaits further developments, with the next key date being the resolution of the WBA lightweight title situation on April 11, and the ongoing legal proceedings involving Davis.
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