Gervonta Davis converts to Islam and changes his name to Abdul Wahid, as the undefeated lightweight champion follows in the footsteps of boxing legend Muhammad Ali


  • Gervonta Davis has converted to Islam and has adopted a new name
  • The lightweight champion this week played down talks of a fight vs Naoya Inoue
  • Jake Paul would be wasting an opportunity if he went over to MMA – The Hook 

By Ed Carruthers For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Gervonta Davis has reportedly converted to Islam and has adopted a the name Abdul Wahid. 

The 29-year-old, who currently holds the WBA World Lightweight title, will follow in the footsteps of several other legendary boxers who have converted to the religion, the most notable being Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay.

Davis’ new name translates to ‘The Servant of The One’ and adopted his new faith in Maryland on December 24.

According to the Baltimore Banner, the boxer performed the Islamic testimony of faith, the shahada, and recieved his new name. 

The outlet also reports that he has not legally changed his name as yet. 

Gervonta Davis has converted to Islam and has changed his name to Abdul Wahid

His new name translates to 'The Servant of The One', with the boxer having performed the Islamic testimony of faith earlier this week

His new name translates to ‘The Servant of The One’, with the boxer having performed the Islamic testimony of faith earlier this week 

Imam Hassan Abdi told the Baltimore Banner: ‘The humility I get from him — and I was surprised meeting him, because I knew who he was but I wasn’t familiar to what extent — he was a very down-to-earth person.

‘The conversation was about being the best version of what we can be as human beings.’

He has also been welcomed his new faith from several members of the world of fight sports, including former WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack.

Jack wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Welcome to Islam brother @Gervontaa Alhamdulillah.’

UFC star Movsar Evloev also welcomed him writing on social media: ‘May Allah make it easy for you and keep you on the straight path. Welcome to Islam brother @Gervontaa’. 

He'll follow several other boxing legends, like Muhammad Ali to convert to the faith

He’ll follow several other boxing legends, like Muhammad Ali to convert to the faith

Davis (pictured) recently beat Ryan Garcia to extend his unbeaten record to 26 fights

Davis (pictured) recently beat Ryan Garcia to extend his unbeaten record to 26 fights

The Hook double

While Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former manager Ali Abdelaziz wrote ‘Mashallah’ which translates to ‘God has willed it’ in Arabic. 

It comes as the undefeated lightweight figher claimed earlier this week that he did not want to fight Naoya Inoue, after speculation had arisen that he could move up in weight to fight the newly crowned undisputed super bantamweight.

The Japanese fighter stopped Marlon Tapales in the 10th round of their Boxing Day fight to achieve the accolade and made history by becoming only the second-ever undisputed champion in two weight classes during the four-belt era.

Despite that, Davis has said he is not interested in a fight against Inoue.  

He said in an Instagram post, according to DAZN: ‘I’m not fighting him. He’s no where near my weight. [I don’t know] why this page keep posting s*** like this.’



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