Just Like Muhammad Ali, Will Gervonta Davis Also Be Referred by His Muslim Name or Will He Take the Mike Tyson Route?

Gervonta Davis made waves in the boxing community when he transitioned from Christianity to Islam. Surprisingly, Davis had kept his beliefs private until his friend, Badou Jack, shared the news on social media. This shift in faith isn’t unique to Davis; legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson have taken a similar route.

Recently, in a heartfelt ceremony at Masjid Al-Hidaayah in Woodlawn, Davis, a Baltimore native, publicly declared his new faith. With Imam Hassan Abdi guiding him, Davis recited the Shahada, signifying his conversion. To symbolize this change, Davis now goes by the name of Abdul Wahid.

The future path for Gervonta Davis

In a significant turn of events, on December 24, the 29-year-old made this announcement, revealing his new Muslim name, Abdul Wahid, which signifies ‘The Slave of the One’. Thus he will now be known by his new name. The Islamic community quickly extended its warm embrace towards Davis. Many took to social media to express their support.

This transition for Davis aligns with the choices made by other renowned American boxers in the past. Like Muhammad Ali who embraced Islam after getting in touch with the Nation of Islam. His meeting with Malcolm X also helped in his decision. Meanwhile, Tyson too took to Islam after getting influenced by Malcolm X when he was serving his sentence. While Tyson retained his original name post the conversion, it seems that Davis will be following Ali’s footsteps and might stick to his new name. The Baltimorean has inspired another champion to follow suit.

Another boxer follows the footsteps of Davis

The ex-WBC light-middleweight champ Tony Harrison followed the footsteps of Davis and embraced Islam as well. Former Australian titleholder Billy Dib recently shared his thoughts on Tony Harrison. Dib, who has endured his own share of hardships after losing his wife to cancer and later battling the disease himself, found solace in faith. Expressing his joy, he commented, “Both Gervonta Davis and now Tony Harrison have embraced Islam. It’s heartwarming to see.”

The boxing community’s reaction has been supportive. With Davis already taking the Muslim name Abdul Wahid, there’s curiosity about Harrison’s choice. Will he follow a similar path? It seems the camaraderie among Muslim boxers is growing, with many welcoming their brothers warmly.

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

As the community expands, it’ll be interesting to see how names and faith intertwine in the world of boxing.

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