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Watch: Devin Haney’s Father Mocks Gervonta Davis, Calls Chimpanzee With His New Muslim Name ‘Abdul Wahid’

Published Dec 31, 2023 | 7:26 AM EST

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via Imago

How far is too far when it comes to trash-talking in boxing? Not so long ago, Gervonta Davis transitioned into Islam, following in the footsteps of boxing legends like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. He even took on his Muslim name, Abdul Wahid, during a beautiful ceremony at Masjid Al-Hidaayah in Woodlawn. However, today, Bill Haney, the father of Davis’ bitter rival Devin Haney, mocked the newly converted Muslim.

It’s worth mentioning that both Devin and his father Bill Haney are followers of Islam. However, that did not stop Papa Bill from referring to a caged chimpanzee with Davis’ new name. Interestingly, during their visit to the zoo, ‘The Dream’ nearly got bit by a brown bear. Nevertheless, Bill decided to share his mocking remark on his Instagram story today. It was later picked up by Boxing n BBQ.

Bill Haney’s controversial encounter

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While exploring the zoo and the enclosures of the various animals residing within it, the Haney came across a Chimpanzee caged behind a thick red metal mesh enclosure. In the video, Bill Haney can be heard loudly calling the speechless primate, “Abdul Wahid.” If that wasn’t enough, he also wrote some choice words alongside the clip on Instagram. 

“Little monkey ni**a hear me,” wrote Bill, followed by a laughing emoji. While it can not be proven that Haney was referring to Davis and his adoption of the name recently, his ongoing back and forth with Davis’ corner indicates it was. While Bill Haney mocked ‘Tank’s’ new name, it’s also worth mentioning what Davis’ Muslim name actually means.

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Gervonta Davis’ step towards personal belief and religious journey

While the Baltimore native hasn’t changed his name legally, his adoption of the name was a significant step towards his personal belief and religious journey as a Muslim. What’s more, he isn’t alone in taking such a step. Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali used to go by the name Cassius Clay. Even ‘Iron’ Mike switched faiths, though he did not change his name – some rumors back then suggested he adopted the name Malik Abdul Aziz.

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However, what does Davis’ new name mean? Well, his new chosen name translates to ‘The Slave/Servant of The One.’ Sharing a clip from the ceremony, an X user tweeted, “Gervonta Davis chose the Muslim name Abdul Wahid (the slave of The One) today at Masjid Hidayah with Imam Hassan Somali and Raha Batts. May Allah preserve them all.”

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After Davis’ conversion to Islam and adoption of the new name, his rival’s father, Bill Haney, decided to mock ‘Tank.’ While Bill might consider the remark as a way to create buzz around a potential fight, it can also be translated as highly insensitive and controversial. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Watch This Story: Gervonta Davis Pays For Thanksgiving Turkeys For The Homeless

Written by:

Sudeep Sinha

1,199Articles

One take at a time

The first time boxing captured my attention, it was because of a line I heard in the film 'Rocky Balboa', a film surrounding boxing. The line went like this, "But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
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Edited by:

Gokul Pillai