WBO lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is largely considered the face of boxing today. But does he really deserve that title? Former world champion and commentator/analyst for ProBox TV Paul Malignaggi might have a problem with it. He recently appeared in an interview bashing the Baltimore native for avoiding the best fights possible. However, he was quickly asked to stay quiet. 

‘Tank’ Davis, who is slated to fight Lamont Roach, has wins over the likes of former interim WBC champion Ryan Garcia and former WBA champion Isaac Cruz. However, ‘The Magic Man’ feels that’s not enough. While speaking to Boxing Social a couple of days ago, the 43-year-old commented on the now-canceled Davis vs. Vasyl Lomachenko fight. 

After his win over Frank Martin earlier this year, Davis was in talks with Lomachenko for a title unification bout. However, the fight talks quickly fell apart after the Ukrainian boxing legend decided to take time off. “He wanted a Lomachenko fight when Lomachenko was old. He didn’t want the Lomachenko fight when Lomachenko was in his prime…,” Malignaggi said. 

He even roped in former IBF super featherweight champion Tevin Farmer, who later climbed to lightweight and is currently slated to fight William Zepeda on November 16th. “Remember, there was also Tevin Farmer in Gervonta Davis’s weight at 130 pounds. He didn’t go for that one either…,” Malignaggi said. 

Because of such actions from Davis, the 43-year-old explained that Lomachenko grew tired of being used as an opponent. Malignaggi claimed Lamackeno doesn’t want to be used to benefit Davis, because “that’s not what [Lomachenko] worked hard for. So he’s [going to] probably choose to exit the sport.”

The analyst even roped in Shakur Stevenson, claiming Stevenson, at least, “genuinely wants to fight the best fighters.” However, Malignaggi blamed Davis, “who doesn’t want to fight him.” He acknowledged that fights have to make sense from a business standpoint, but bashed Davis for making excuses while highlighting their go-to excuses, “This guy doesn’t sell well, this guy’s not popular, this guy’s not this.”

Malignaggi blamed Western boxers for doing similar things, adding that people crave the best fighting the best because of it. Regardless, former Mayweather Promotion CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who promoted Davis in the past, responded to Malignaggi’s comments on X, asking him to shut up. 

“@PaulMalignaggi damn slow down and get your facts straight, you don’t [know] what the fk you talking about w either guy.  I made an offer to Farmer during that time, so shut the fk up,” Ellerbe wrote. That being said, Davis seems to be having issues finalizing his next fight date. 

Gervonta Davis’ next fight meets roadblock

The Baltimore native’s upcoming fight against Roach has run into a roadblock, with the bout postponed from its original date of December 14th. Reports from acclaimed boxing journalist Dan Rafael suggest that the fight will now take place sometime in January, although the exact date has not been made public as of yet. 

Davis himself has responded to this report, writing, “January, I’m hearing.” However, he didn’t specify the reason behind the delay. Some say that the venue, Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, itself may have caused some issues. Other rumors also indicated that Davis’ fight might co-feature with the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell bout, but Rafael claims that is “unlikely.”

That being said, Paul Malignaggi seems to be a staunch supporter of the best fighting the best, and he sees Gervonta Davis as someone who does the exact opposite. While Ellerbe has revealed that he made an offer to Farmer, it doesn’t explain why Davis is not fighting Stevenson. What do you think about Malignaggi’s comments?