Boxing is a sport that thrives on skill, talent, and, often, trash talk. However, there are certain boundaries that most fighters respect—one of them being family. Gervonta “Tank” Davis, however, appeared to ignore that unwritten rule when he recently targeted Terence Crawford’s family on social media. His comments sparked controversy, and now his former promoter, Floyd Mayweather, has weighed in on the matter.
Davis vs. Crawford: A Heated Social Media Exchange
The conflict began last month when Davis was left off the guest list for the Ring Magazine gala. The prestigious event was held under the direction of Saudi Boxing Chief Turki Alalshikh, with whom Davis reportedly does not have the best relationship. Feeling disrespected by his exclusion, Davis took to social media to vent his frustrations.
Former undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford took notice of Davis’ reaction and posted a tweet that appeared to poke fun at the situation. “I see somebody mad they wasn’t invited to the Ring Magazine gala,” Crawford wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Very low by Tank Davis @Gervontaa, bringing Terence Crawford’s @terencecrawford family into it, you never ever bring family into it. EVER!!! Classless move. #Boxing pic.twitter.com/znDKyiiFUr
— Rick Glaser (@RealRickGlaser1) January 15, 2025
This remark provoked Davis, leading to a heated exchange between the two fighters. They began arguing over who had more money, a common theme in boxing rivalries. However, Davis escalated the situation by dragging Crawford’s family into the dispute. He posted a message referring to Crawford’s wife and children in an offensive manner: “And he got like 8 kids and his wife like 380 lbs..yea buddy gotta work overtime.”
Public Reaction and Mayweather’s Response
Many in the boxing world were quick to criticize Davis for bringing family into the argument. Boxing analyst Rick Glaser called the move “classless,” emphasizing that fighters should never target each other’s families in trash talk.
Floyd Mayweather, who once promoted Davis before their professional split, addressed the controversy during an interview with Brian Mazique. Instead of directly condemning Davis, Mayweather shifted the focus to Crawford’s accomplishments and the importance of unity in the boxing community.
“I think Terence Crawford right now is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather stated. “It’s good to see him in this position that he’s in. I think he has a beautiful family, a beautiful wife, a beautiful queen. And there’s nothing better than a black woman in this world—that’s just my opinion. We are all entitled to our opinion. I think we need to start sticking together and pushing each other to be great instead of arguing on social media. And push each other in a positive way.”
Mayweather’s comments suggest that while he didn’t directly call out Davis, he made it clear that respect and unity are more important than social media feuds.
Crawford’s Take on Gervonta Davis vs. Keyshawn Davis
Crawford has never had a friendly relationship with Davis, and their recent online spat only fueled their rivalry. In the past, there were discussions about a potential fight between them, as Davis was rumored to be moving up in weight. However, that match never materialized.
Adding to the tension, Davis previously supported Errol Spence Jr. over Crawford when they fought. This history of disagreements may have played a role in Crawford’s recent comments about a possible fight between Davis and rising contender Keyshawn Davis.
“You have two talented fighters. Both of them are counter-punchers. Both of them are smart,” Crawford said in an interview with Sean Zittel after Keyshawn Davis knocked out Denys Berinchyk. “Tank might have a little more power, but Keyshawn has power, too. It would be a great fight, and I think Keyshawn would win.”
The Bigger Picture
Gervonta Davis’ decision to bring up Terence Crawford’s family in their argument has raised ethical concerns in the boxing world. While trash talk is a staple of the sport, many believe that personal attacks on family members cross a line. Even though Mayweather refrained from outright condemning Davis, his words suggest a belief that boxing should focus on professional rivalries rather than personal insults.
Meanwhile, Crawford remains focused on his career and has continued to share his insights on upcoming matchups. Whether this feud will lead to an actual fight between Davis and Crawford remains to be seen. However, Davis’ social media antics have once again placed him at the center of controversy.
With both fighters still at the top of their game, the question remains: Will this rivalry be settled in the ring,or will it remain a war of words?