Gervonta "Tank" Davis has firmly dismissed ongoing concerns regarding his prolonged absence from the professional boxing ring. Facing mounting criticism over an inactivity streak that has left him without a victory in nearly two and a half years, the unbeaten star has chosen to deflect the pressure by pointing directly to the career blueprint of his former mentor and promoter, Floyd Mayweather.
The hard-hitting Baltimore puncher has not enjoyed the taste of victory since putting on a dominant performance to knock out Frank Martin in June 2024. Following that successful outing, Davis’s career trajectory hit a series of roadblocks and promotional snags. His most recent appearance inside the squared circle came in March 2025 against Lamont Roach Jr., a bout that ended in a controversial majority draw and left fans and analysts alike questioning where the lightweight powerhouse’s career was heading.
Despite these setbacks, Davis still boasts an unblemished professional record standing at 30 wins, no losses, and 1 draw, with an impressive 28 victories coming by way of knockout. Even so, his extended time away from active competition, combined with lingering problems and legal hurdles outside of the ring, has severely impacted his championship standing and halted the momentum that once made him one of the sport’s most active and feared champions.
The controversy surrounding his current status reached a new level when a prominent social media post highlighted the stark reality that Davis had gone almost two years without securing a win. Rather than offering a traditional apology or a definitive timeline for a comeback to concerned supporters, Davis fired back by referencing the distinct career trajectory of his former promoter, who famously mastered the art of strategic layoffs during his legendary career.
"Floyd retired for two years. I’ll be ok goofy," Davis stated bluntly in response to the social media scrutiny.
Floyd Mayweather Layoff
To understand the comparison Davis is attempting to make, one must look back at the historical precedents set by Mayweather, who mastered the strategic pause during his storied tenure in professional boxing. Mayweather famously stepped away from the sport following a tenth-round technical knockout victory over Ricky Hatton in December 2007, officially announcing his retirement shortly thereafter while sitting at the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
Mayweather remained inactive for nearly two years before making his high-profile return in September 2009. Stepping back into the ring after a 21-month layoff, he systematically dismantled Juan Manuel Marquez, cruising to a wide unanimous decision victory at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and proving that a long break had done nothing to blunt his elite technical skills.
Buoyed by that successful return, Mayweather subsequently embarked on a legendary championship run, defeating a succession of elite fighters including Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, and Manny Pacquiao. He ultimately walked away from professional boxing with a pristine 49-0 record following a September 2015 victory over Andre Berto.
Never one to stay away from the spotlight permanently, Mayweather engineered yet another theatrical comeback. Following a 23-month absence from professional boxing, he returned in August 2017 to face mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor. That lucrative crossover bout ended in a tenth-round technical knockout, extending Mayweather’s historic, unblemished professional record to a staggering 50-0.
Davis clearly believes he can follow a remarkably similar strategic route, using extended periods of rest and negotiation leverage to preserve his marketability and health. However, independent observers and boxing historians have been quick to point out that the circumstances surrounding Davis’s current absence are considerably different from the calculated sabbaticals taken by his predecessor.
Mayweather had voluntarily stepped away from the sport at the absolute height of his athletic powers, fully in control of his career, promotional obligations, and personal life. In stark contrast, Davis has spent a significant portion of his recent time away from the sport dealing with a series of off-the-calendar legal hurdles, canceled promotional opportunities, and lingering questions regarding his long-term future and dedication to the sport.
The comparison is made all the more intriguing given the complex, deeply intertwined history between the two fighters. Mayweather played an instrumental role in shaping Davis’s career, helping guide him from a promising young amateur prospect out of Baltimore into one of the undisputed biggest pay-per-view attractions in modern boxing.
World Boxing News previously documented how Mayweather first encountered Davis during a 2013 promotional tour featuring Canelo Alvarez, an initial meeting that eventually led to Davis signing with Mayweather Promotions and launching his professional superstardom under the watchful eye of the five-division world champion.
However, their once-close relationship steadily deteriorated over the ensuing years, ultimately culminating in Davis making the definitive decision to split from Mayweather Promotions and leave the company in 2022. Subsequent reports further illuminated the friction behind the scenes, including Davis’s own public explanations regarding the split, where he alleged that a personal dispute involving Mayweather’s family contributed significantly to the permanent falling out between mentor and protégé.
Even after parting ways professionally, the relationship has remained visibly strained. Tensions surfaced publicly as recently as September, when Davis took to social media to openly accuse Mayweather of fabricating statements regarding historical events surrounding the tragic murder of legendary hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur.
Despite these deep-seated personal differences and the public fallout, Davis is now leaning on his former mentor’s career methodology to deflect criticism and defend his own prolonged period of inactivity.
Tank Davis Comeback
The raw numbers highlight the severity of Davis’s current layoff. His last official victory means he has now gone an astounding 878 days without having his hand raised in triumph inside a boxing ring.
The frustrating draw against Lamont Roach Jr. remains his only competitive appearance since mid-2024, while a heavily discussed, high-profile exhibition match against social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul ultimately failed to materialize despite widespread media speculation.
Industry reports indicated that Davis had been eyeing a strategic return to the ring between January and March of 2027. Among the notable names circulating as potential opponents for his comeback fight was former unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr., a matchup that would instantly re-establish Davis at the competitive forefront of the 135-pound division.
Despite these rumored targets, no official bout agreement has been finalized or signed by either camp, leaving the boxing star without a confirmed return date as another calendar year rapidly approaches.
At 32 years of age, Davis still possesses the physical prime years necessary to completely rebuild his career and reclaim his championship belts. He comfortably remains one of the most bankable and explosive attractions in the entire sport, capable of generating massive gate revenues and pay-per-view buys whenever he decides to step back through the ropes.
Floyd Mayweather famously proved that a lengthy absence from the sport does not automatically spell the end of a fighter’s dominance or market appeal. However, as the months continue to tick away and the questions mount, Gervonta Davis still has to step back into the ring and prove that his own extensive time away has not cost him the elite timing, reflexes, and killer instinct required to compete and win at the absolute highest level of professional boxing.
