Gervonta Davis arrested in Miami on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges

Boxing champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis was arrested in Miami on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after authorities issued a warrant accusing him of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping, according to Miami Gardens police.

Davis, a three-division world champion, was taken into custody following a multi-day surveillance effort carried out across three counties with assistance from the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Police said the 31-year-old boxer was arrested without incident in Miami’s Design District and later booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center late Wednesday night, as reported by The Guardian.

The arrest stems from an alleged domestic violence incident that police say occurred on Oct. 27 at a strip club in Miami Gardens. Investigators allege that Davis confronted a woman, described as a former romantic partner who was working at the venue as a VIP cocktail server, and forcibly escorted her into a private room where she was assaulted. Authorities further allege that Davis restrained the woman and later led her outside before releasing her.

According to a police report cited by The Guardian, the woman told investigators that Davis grabbed her by the hair and throat while making a threatening statement. Officers said they documented visible injuries, including bruising on her arm, after the woman sought assistance from coworkers and contacted police.

The woman told authorities she met Davis in 2022 and was involved in a relationship with him for several months in 2025, ending roughly a month before the alleged incident. She said she had cut off communication with him prior to the confrontation.

In addition to filing a police report, the woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Davis alleging battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping. One of her attorneys said earlier this month that the conclusions of the police investigation align with the claims made in the civil case. Court filings indicate that efforts to serve Davis with the lawsuit were unsuccessful for several weeks.

At a press conference on Jan. 14, Miami Gardens police described the matter as a domestic violence case and confirmed that they were working with federal authorities to locate Davis. Police declined to provide further details following his arrest, citing the ongoing legal process.

The arrest follows recent disruptions to Davis’s boxing career. He had been training for a scheduled November bout against influencer Jake Paul but was removed from the event after the lawsuit became public and later replaced on the card. Davis last fought in March, retaining his World Boxing Association lightweight title in a controversial draw against Lamont Roach Jr.

However, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza announced over the weekend that Davis had been stripped of his title due to both the pending legal case and inactivity in the division. Davis has defended the belt only twice in the past three years and does not currently have a fight scheduled.

Davis has faced several legal issues throughout his career, including previous domestic violence allegations, some of which were later dropped. In 2023, he was sentenced in Maryland to probation and house arrest following a hit-and-run conviction in Baltimore.

According to The Guardian, it is not yet clear when Davis will make his first court appearance in Miami-Dade County or whether the Florida charges could impact his probation status in Maryland. Miami Gardens police said the investigation remains active and declined further comment.