WBA Strips Gervonta Davis of Active Lightweight Title, Orders Schofield and Bahdi to Fight for Vacant Belt

Overview

• The WBA announced on Friday, June 26, 2026, that it has designated Gervonta Davis as 'champion in recess' and removed his status as the active lightweight champion.
• The decision followed a review of Davis's legal situation, including battery and kidnapping accusations from an October 27, 2025 incident and an April Maryland arrest warrant tied to a possible probation violation.
• The WBA ordered its No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi, to fight for the now-vacant WBA lightweight title and cleared the winner as the active champion.
• The Championships Committee cited WBA Rules C.21, C.22, C.27 and the organization's Code of Ethics, said the ruling takes effect immediately, and replaced prior orders involving the fighters.
• Davis keeps a residual claim as champion in recess and would be first in line to challenge the title if cleared to compete; the move opens a path for other contenders and restarts title business in the lightweight division.