In a seismic shock to the boxing world, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. has reportedly canceled Gervonta “Tank” Davis’s boxing license, effective immediately, following confirmation of bribery allegations tied to his controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. earlier this month. The decision, announced just hours ago, marks a dramatic fall from grace for the once-untouchable lightweight champion, whose career now hangs in the balance.

The controversy stems from Davis’s March 1 title defense at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where he retained his WBA lightweight belt in a majority draw against Roach. The fight drew widespread criticism after Davis voluntarily took a knee in the ninth round—an action many, including Roach’s team, argued should have been ruled a knockdown. Referee Steve Willis’s decision to call it a no-knockdown, despite initially starting a count, sparked outrage, with fans and analysts accusing the WBA of bias toward Davis, a long-time favorite of the organization.

In the weeks following the bout, whispers of impropriety grew louder. Sources close to the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), which upheld the draw despite a review, hinted at “irregularities” in the officiating process. Then, late last night, an explosive report surfaced: alleged evidence of bribery involving Davis’s camp and key WBA officials. According to an anonymous whistleblower, payments were made to ensure the fight’s outcome favored Davis, protecting his undefeated record and marketability as the “face of boxing.”

Mendoza, who initially pushed for a rematch between Davis and Roach, reversed course after the bribery allegations were substantiated. In a statement released at 11:00 AM PDT today, he declared, “The WBA stands for integrity in boxing. We have zero tolerance for corruption. After confirming the evidence of bribery in the Davis-Roach fight, I have no choice but to cancel Gervonta Davis’s boxing license. This sport must be cleaned up, and this is a necessary step.”

The decision is unprecedented for a fighter of Davis’s stature. The 30-year-old Baltimore native, with a record of 30-0-1 (28 KOs), has been a cornerstone of the WBA’s lightweight division, drawing massive pay-per-view numbers and selling out arenas. But his career has long been dogged by controversy, from legal troubles to accusations of favoritism by the WBA—claims that date back to 2018 when the organization was criticized for quietly stripping titles from other fighters to benefit Davis.

While details of the bribery evidence remain under wraps, sources claim it includes financial records and communications between Davis’s team and WBA officials, allegedly showing payments to influence the referee and judges. The scandal has reignited debates about corruption in boxing, with some pointing to the WBA’s history of questionable decisions—like the 2018 incident where they stripped the super featherweight title from Andrew Machado to hand it to Davis for a fight against an unranked opponent.

Davis’s camp has yet to respond officially, but the fighter took to X at 12:15 PM PDT, posting, “This is a witch hunt. I’m the best, and they can’t handle it.” The cryptic message has only fueled speculation, with fans divided—some calling for justice, others decrying the WBA’s decision as an overreach. “Tank’s been screwed by the system,” one supporter tweeted. “He’s the biggest star in boxing—why would he need to bribe anyone?”

Meanwhile, Roach’s team, which had formally protested the fight’s outcome, celebrated the news. “Justice is served,” Roach said in a brief statement. “I knew something wasn’t right that night. Now the world knows too.”

The cancellation of Davis’s license throws his future into chaos. Already on a self-proclaimed “farewell tour” with plans to retire by the end of 2025, Davis now faces the possibility of an early exit from the sport. Without a WBA license, he cannot compete in sanctioned bouts, effectively halting his career unless he secures a license from another governing body like the WBC or IBF—a process that could be complicated by the bribery scandal.

The broader implications for boxing are just as significant. The WBA’s move, while praised by some as a bold stand against corruption, has others questioning the organization’s own role in enabling such behavior. Critics point to Mendoza’s initial defense of the Davis-Roach decision and the WBA’s history of favoritism toward Davis, asking why it took a public scandal to prompt action. “The WBA isn’t cleaning house—they’re saving face,” boxing analyst Tom Hauser told ESPN. “If they were serious about reform, they’d investigate their own ranks too.”

As of 1:37 PM PDT, the boxing world is still grappling with the fallout. Davis is expected to appeal the decision, potentially taking the matter to court, while Roach has been named the interim WBA lightweight champion pending a future title fight. The NYSAC, already under fire for its handling of the original bout, announced it will launch a separate investigation into the bribery claims.

For fans, the news is a bitter pill. Davis, love him or hate him, has been a lightning rod for attention, bringing mainstream eyes to boxing with his knockout power and larger-than-life persona. But as the sport faces yet another corruption scandal, one question looms large: can boxing ever clean up its act, or will the “sweet science” remain a game of shadows?

Stay tuned for updates as this bombshell story unfolds!