Imagine converting your religion to feel more connected to your spiritual path, only to face backlash from critics. How would that feel? Uneasy? Unfazed? For Gervonta Davis, it’s the latter. Standing tall with a record of 30-0-1 with 28 KOs, the Baltimore native knows how to take the punches and slyly steal victory from his opponents. And he couldn’t care less about the murmurs behind his back. With faith in himself and his beliefs, that’s all he needs to keep his eye on the prize.

But what’s all the fuss about his religion? Why the change of heart? When did this happen? So many questions, right? Despite the storm of controversy swirling around his decision, Gervonta Davis doesn’t see the need to clear the air for the haters. For him, it’s all about moving forward with his own truth. So come, let’s dive into the story behind his religious journey ahead of his boxing match against Jake Paul on Netflix in November.

When did Gervonta Davis convert to Islam? Inside his Shahada ceremony in Baltimore

Yes, Gervonta Davis follows Islam. It all unfolded on Christmas Eve 2023 at a Maryland mosque in Baltimore. The ceremony was led by Philadelphia-based Imam Hassan Abdi from Masjid Al-Hidaayah. Imam Abdi shared, “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,” he said to the Baltimore Banner.

When asked about the reason behind the conversion, the boxing star added, “The conversion was about being the best version of what we can be as human beings.” Thereafter, Gervonta Davis performed the Shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith, marking a pivotal moment in his life, and also changed his name.

Gervonta Davis’ conversion and meaning of new name, ‘Abdul Wahid’ 

During the aforementioned ceremony, in a symbolic gesture, Gervonta Davis announced his new Muslim name: ‘Abdul Wahid.’ The meaning of this name is The Servant of The One, which embodies the concept of total submission to God’s will. The boxing world, too, rallied behind him, with former WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack offering a warm welcome, and UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev addressing Davis by his new name, celebrating his faith.

While Gervonta Davis has kept the exact reason for his conversion close to the chest, he did reveal that he was inspired by his boxing idols—Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, who took the name Malik Abdul Aziz when he converted in the 90s. Well, Davis may have turned to Islam in 2023, but whathis religious affiliation before his conversion? Here’s what we know!

What was Gervonta Davis’ religion before conversion? His diverse ethnic background

Gervonta Davis comes from a rich, diverse heritage, with both African American and Puerto Rican roots. Born on November 7, 1994, in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents Garrin Davis and Kenya Brown, the 30-year-old initially followed Christianity. But while his conversion might seem like a smooth transition on the surface, it wasn’t without its bumps. The decision raised plenty of eyebrows, and Davis himself gave others plenty of reasons to question his faith. So, what exactly did he do?

Two years have passed since his conversion, yet the 30-year-old still goes by his birth name, Gervonta Davis. Maybe he’s following in the footsteps of Mike Tyson, who stuck with his original name even after his own conversion. And the second reason? Well, it’s an interesting one that led to the boxing star facing backlash.

Gervonta Davis’ wearing a cross after conversion causes public backlash

Shortly after his conversion, Gervonta Davis was spotted wearing a diamond-encrusted cross—rocking a pink jacket and red hat, with the symbol prominently displayed. The image quickly went viral, raising questions about the sincerity of his conversion. One user on X reshared the picture and captioned it by saying, “Is Gervonta (Tank) Davis disrespecting all Muslims and the religion of Islam by wearing a cross?” 

The same was the case during the press conference for his Frank Martin fight last year, where he once again sported a diamond-encrusted cross, thus inviting flak from users on the internet. People were not happy, and they raised questions about the sincerity of Davis’s conversion to Islam. 

People on social media wrote, “Disrespecting all Muslims and the religion of Islam by wearing a cross?” and “Rocking Cross after announcing he’s converting to Islam and changing his name to Abdul Wahid.” These comments made it evident that they weren’t happy with ‘Tank’s actions.

Despite what people have had to say, Gervonta Davis has continued to practice the religion of his choice and hasn’t let the naysayers affect him in any way. So, what’s your take on the situation? Do you think there’s more to the story than meets the eye? Do share your thoughts with us below!