Police say charges include battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping stemming from an Oct. 27 incident.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Police said Wednesday that an arrest warrant was issued for WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident at a Miami Gardens gentlemen’s club last fall, and that they are working with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force to find him.
The development intensifies scrutiny on one of boxing’s biggest names and interrupts his near-term plans inside the ring. Miami Gardens officials said the warrant follows a review of surveillance video and witness accounts from an Oct. 27 encounter involving Davis and a woman he had previously dated. Authorities outlined three charges—battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping—while the county’s state attorney continues to review evidence. It is not yet clear whether the case could affect the fighter’s probation in a separate Baltimore hit-and-run matter. Davis’ representatives did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
According to police, the alleged encounter began inside the club where the woman worked as a VIP cocktail server. Investigators said Davis entered the business and confronted her in a back area before forcefully escorting her through interior spaces and toward a parking garage. The victim told officers she was grabbed by the back of her head and by the neck, then pulled along a stairwell and kitchen corridor before the struggle continued in the garage. She was later released and ran to coworkers. At a news conference, Miami Gardens Police Executive Officer Emmanuel Jeanty said detectives reviewed security video that “corroborates key elements” of the woman’s account. “Domestic violence is a serious crime,” Jeanty said, adding that officers are actively coordinating with federal partners to locate Davis.
In a civil lawsuit filed days after the incident, the woman—identified in court papers as ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel—alleged battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Her attorney, Jeff Chukwuma, said the police findings align with the claims. “What the police said is exactly in line with our lawsuit,” he said, noting that prosecutors and a judge authorized the warrant after reviewing the case file. Police said the couple’s relationship ended about a month before the October confrontation and that Rossel had blocked Davis on her devices. Officials said they are withholding the club’s name for safety reasons and that the woman reported bruising to her left arm. The case file did not list additional injuries, and police did not release the full video.
The timing carries wide sports implications. Davis was removed from a planned Nov. 14 exhibition bout in Miami after the lawsuit was filed, and organizers shifted their plans while the case gained attention. The Baltimore native, 31, has remained the WBA lightweight titleholder and one of boxing’s top draws. He last fought earlier in the year and has not announced a new opponent. Separately, court records show he received a 90-day house-arrest sentence and three years’ probation in 2023 for a Baltimore hit-and-run that injured several people, including a pregnant woman. He was briefly taken into custody that June amid questions over compliance with the home-detention terms. Whether the Florida warrant triggers any probation review in Maryland remains unknown, officials said.
Davis’ legal history has intersected with his career before. In 2020, he was charged with domestic battery after a widely viewed video from a University of Miami charity basketball game showed him pulling a woman from her seat; the case was later discharged. In late 2022, he was arrested in Broward County on a misdemeanor domestic violence allegation; prosecutors dropped that case in 2023 after the woman told authorities she did not wish to pursue charges. The fighter has denied harming his partners in social-media posts and statements over the years. Supporters say he has faced intense scrutiny because of his fame, while advocates for survivors argue the pattern underscores why police and courts should press ahead even when victims are reluctant or fearful to participate.
For now, Miami Gardens police say the focus is on finding Davis and completing the criminal process that follows an arrest. If taken into custody in Florida, he would make an initial appearance before a judge, who would address bond and travel restrictions. Prosecutors could seek stay-away orders and continued no-contact directives. If apprehended outside the state, extradition could add days to the timeline. Police said additional video or witness statements could be added to the file before charging documents are finalized. The department did not give a deadline for the search, and no court date has been set.
Outside the station Wednesday, a handful of boxing fans and local residents gathered after the police briefing. Some expressed disappointment, saying they had hoped to see Davis fight in South Florida again. Others focused on the case’s allegations. “You can be a champion and still face consequences,” said Wesley Ortiz, 42, who lives a few blocks from the club district. A bartender who works nearby said management recently reminded staff about security escorts to their cars. “Everybody’s talking about it,” she said, declining to give her name because she isn’t authorized to speak for the business. She added that plainclothes officers have visited the block in recent days.
As of Thursday morning, police had not announced an arrest. The department said updates would be posted after key steps such as an arrest, a first-appearance hearing or the filing of formal charges. The next possible milestone is confirmation that U.S. Marshals have located Davis or that he has surrendered to authorities.
Author note: Last updated January 15, 2026.