Former World Champion Joins Gervonta Davis, Re-Converts to Islam Within a Week of Tank’s Name Change to Abdul Wahid

Published 12/30/2023, 12:02 AM EST

Gervonta Davis stunned the boxing world with his conversion to Islam. This came as a surprise for many since Davis never shared his personal beliefs publicly before. However, his introduction to a new religion was shared on social media by his friend and fellow boxer Badou Jack. But this isn’t something new in the fighting world.

Now, less than a week another boxer has embraced Islam. But this time he has converted back to his religion to follow his forefather’s footsteps. Ironically, the boxer’s friend made the announcement just like Badou Jack did for Davis. Former Australian champion Billy Dib took to X to post about the former WBC light-middleweight champion Tony Harrison. Dib wrote in his post, “In less than a week 2 brothers from the boxing fraternity have embraced the faith of Islam AL-HUMDULILAH My brother [Gervonta Davis] and now brother [Tony Harrison] Mashallah.”

In less than a week 2 brothers from the boxing fraternity have embraced the faith of Islam AL-HUMDULILAH My brother @Gervontaa and now brother @Iamboxing Mashallah. pic.twitter.com/qbo0kBJhga
— Billy Dib (@BillyDib) December 29, 2023

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Dib has himself faced a tragic life since he lost his beloved wife in 2015 because of cancer, but later he was diagnosed with the disease himself. However, his faith helped him a lot to deal with the difficult period in his life and not lose hope. Therefore, he showed happiness for his fellow boxers to come on the same journey of faith just like him.

The trend started with Muhammad Ali who became a Muslim in 1964, and then in the 1990s, Mike Tyson followed the same path. This list also includes esteemed former world champions like Dwight Muhammad Qawi, previously known as Dwight Braxton, and Matthew Saad Muhammad, formerly known as Matthew Franklin. Even after embracing the Muslim faith and adopting the name Malik Abdul Aziz, the legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson made a distinctive choice. He continued his boxing career under his original name.

Watch This Story: 5 Potential Opponents For Gervonta Davis

Following Gervonta Davis’s adoption of the moniker ‘Abdul Wahid,’ enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the name under which Davis will grace the boxing ring. The suspense heightens as speculation surrounds whether Harrison, who decided to walk the same path as his family, too, will opt for a name change.

Tony Harrison following footsteps of his ancestors

In a fascinating lineage of religious embracement, the Premier Boxing champion’s grandfather and father had converted their faith. Tony’s grandfather, Henry Hank was born Joseph Harrison, who later changed his name to Jusuf Salaam when he embraced Islam in 1971. When he started boxing, he took the name Henry Hank out of admiration for three-time world champion Henry Armstrong. Henry was a contender in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions during a 19-year pro career. He went 62-30-4, including 40 knockouts, from 1953-72.

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Tony’s father Ali Salaam was a pillar of the Detroit boxing community. Salaam, converted to Islam and took on a Muslim name when he was 18. He went 11-7 (5 KOs) mostly as a welterweight from 1984-89. He was the trainer of former WBC junior middleweight champion Tony Harrison and was a professional boxer before shifting his focus to training fighters. The native of Detroit helped Harrison, the second youngest of eight children, run a gym, SuperBad Fitness, that provided a safe haven for children.

In 2020, Harrison lost his father Salmaan to Covid 19. After his father died, LJ Harrison took over as his brother’s head trainer. Before his death, Salmaan said, “What better person to have in my son’s corner to protect him than his older brother?’’

The 33-year-old American boxer believes that his boxing style and personality have been passed down by his family, he said, “My whole style came from what my Dad learned from him. You see the similarities between me and my granddad because that’s what was passed along through the family.”

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As Harrison acknowledges the profound impact of his family on his boxing style and persona, he encapsulates a legacy not only defined by victories in the ring but also by the enduring spirit of familial influence.

“Abdul Vahid”: UFC Star Khamzat Chimaev Reacts to Gervonta Davis Converting to Islam After Team Khabib Welcomes Him

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Written by:

My passion for sweet science began at the tender age of 12, a gift from my father who introduced me to the legendary persona of Muhammad Ali. In my heart, 'The Rumble in the Jungle' still remains to be the pinnacle of sporting history. Over the years, my fervor for boxing remained intact, although life's commitments sometimes deviated me from being a hardcore fan of the sport.

Edited by:

Arijit Saha

Former World Champion Joins Gervonta Davis, Re-Converts to Islam Within a Week of Tank’s Name Change to Abdul Wahid

Tony Harrison following footsteps of his ancestors

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