MIAMI — The World Boxing Association (WBA) designated Gervonta "Tank" Davis as champion in recess on June 26, 2026. The sanctioning body stated that pending legal proceedings in the United States may affect Davis' ability to defend his title.

Following this designation, the WBA ordered Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi to compete for the now-vacant lightweight title. The organization's Championships Committee reviewed the situation and concluded that ongoing proceedings could prevent Davis from fulfilling championship obligations. "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," the WBA said. The organization added, "According to publicly available information, Davis is currently facing pending legal proceedings in the United States that could result in a trial and affect his ability to defend the title within the timeframes established by WBA regulations."

Courtney Rossel accused Davis of battery and kidnapping stemming from an incident at Tootsies, a Miami gentlemen's club, on October 27, 2025. In April 2026, a Maryland judge issued an arrest warrant for Davis after the altercation was deemed a potential violation of his probation order in the state.

Davis previously held the WBA (Regular) lightweight title, which he captured in 2019 after a victory over Yuriorkis Gamboa. He successfully defended the title four times before being named the full WBA lightweight champion in 2023, following Devin Haney's exit from the division. Davis' professional record stands at 30 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, with 28 knockouts. His most recent bout was a draw against Lamont Roach in March 2025, and he defeated Frank Martin by eighth-round knockout in June 2024.

The WBA had previously named Davis champion in recess in January 2026 due to an arrest warrant in Miami. The organization reinstated him as champion a few months later and ordered him to face Floyd Schofield in May 2026.