Why Gervonta Davis adopted new name Abdul Wahid? Reasons Revealed

Gervonta Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, last fought Ryan Garcia in the boxing event billed as ‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This’. The undefeated lightweight recently reverted to the religion of Islam along with two of his friends.

Many Muslim fighters, both from boxing and MMA welcomed Davis with open arms for the decision. Khamzat Chimaev, Belal Muhammad, Movsae Evloev, and Devin Haney among others applauded Davis on X. After the conversion, Davis adopted the name Abdul Wahid.

Why Gervonta Davis adopted new name?

Gervonta Davis, undefeated in his professional boxing career, has a 93% finish rate, which is quite high for a fighter in a lighter weight class. The knockout artist’s recent reversion to the Islamic religion made headlines on social media.

Davis chose the name Abdul Wahid after reversion. Translated to English, the name means ‘Servant of the One’ which metaphorically translates to the ‘Servant of Allah’. It is customary for Islamic reverts to adopt an Arabic name after reversion. Davis chose the name at Masjid Hidayah with Imam Hasan Somali and Raha Batts.

Notably, Cassius Clay adopted the name Muhammad Ali, the name of the fourth Calipha, after conversion. Malik Abdul Aziz was the name adopted by Mike Tyson when he reverted. However, Tyson did not use the adopted name in his boxing career even after reversion.

Devin Haney’s father takes aim at Gervonta Davis on IG

Devin Haney, the former undisputed boxing lightweight champion recently moved up in weight and won the WBC super lightweight title from Regis Prograis. A fight between Davis and Haney is highly anticipated in the boxing community. The two are considered the best in the weight class. They were rumored to fight but negotiations failed, and Haney went on to fight Prograis.

Bill Haney, the father of Devin Haney, is an integral part of Devin Haney’s professional boxing career. The Haneys are practicing Muslims and Bill Haney recently trolled Gervonta Davis after he reverted to Islam. Haney, who was at a Zoo, was seen calling a Gorilla by the name of Abdul Wahid, the adopted name of Davis after he embraced Islam.

It did not stop there as Haney shared a story on Instagram calling Gervonta Davis a ‘Lil Monkey’. Davis already had ‘Big Ape’ in his bio on Instagram. Haney was poking fun at it. Nevertheless, his actions did not go unnoticed by combat sports enthusiasts on social media as they did not find it aligned with their Muslim beliefs.

It remains to be seen whether Haney and Davis will lock horns inside the ring anytime soon. Davis had already defeated one superstar in boxing, Ryan Garcia, giving Garcia his first defeat in professional boxing. On the other hand, Haney also has a notable victory over two-time Olympic champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.

What do you make of Bill Haney’s comments on Gervonta Davis? Leave your comment below!