While the boxing world distances itself from Gervonta Davis amid serious criminal charges, an unlikely voice has emerged to defend him. The former WBA lightweight champion was arrested in Miami on January 28 on charges of battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping. According to reports, ‘Tank’ allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, in October of last year. He has since been released from prison after posting an $8,500 bond along with a “no contact” order. Despite the severity of the incident and the allegations made against him, a former rival of his, Rolando Romero, doesn’t think of him in the same way.

“I have so much love for Gervonta,” Romero told Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast recently. “It’s unbelievable the amount of love I have for him. Everything that he’s gone through, Gervonta is not a bad dude. I could see it in the soul. He’s not somebody who will sit down and plot [against] you… You can tell he’s just a reactive person. He has no hate. He has no true evil in his heart. I truly believe he’s a good man, and I know he’ll get through this all.”

According to the police report, Gervonta Davis entered a strip club back on October 27 and had a confrontation with his ex-girlfriend. He then allegedly took the woman to a back room, where he attacked and restrained her. The report also states that Davis grabbed his ex by her hair and throat before threatening her, saying, “You think I would not find you.”

Gervonta Davis later took his ex-girlfriend to the club’s parking lot, where he released her. The two first met in 2022 and briefly dated for five months in 2025. However, their relationship eventually ended, after which she cut off all communication with Davis. Rossel has since filed a civil lawsuit against the Baltimore native, and as part of Davis’ release from prison, he has been ordered to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend. 

The 31-year-old has a history of such incidents. However, most of them have been dropped. As of now, Gervonta Davis remains out of jail, and the latest reports reveal that he is in advanced talks with former rival Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz for a rematch this summer. The pair fought in December 2021 in Los Angeles, where Tank won via unanimous decision. As for Rolando Romero, he may be able to relate to Davis’ current situation.

Rolando Romero was once investigated for s—al assault ahead of his Gervonta Davis bout

‘Rolly’ Romero had been set to challenge Davis on December 5, 2021, in Los Angeles. But he was pulled from the bout in late October after a woman accused him on X and filed a report with the Henderson Police Department. Despite the allegation, the investigation later concluded without charges. According to the police report, the allegations did not meet the legal elements of s–ual assault. 

“After ‘false accusations, having to miss out on opportunities, cheated out of my dream, and out of a massive amount of wealth,’ the investigation into the allegations made against me has been formally closed,” Romero addressed the outcome in an Instagram statement. “Charges were not filed because the allegations could not be substantiated, because, as I always stated, I am innocent.”

Romero later fought Gervonta Davis in May 2022, where he suffered a sixth-round knockout loss to Tank.

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From the looks of things, Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero clearly believes Gervonta Davis will be exonerated. However, only time will tell whether the allegations against Davis turn out to be false, like in Romero’s case. While Romero sees a path to redemption for Davis, the boxer’s future now rests not in the ring but in the hands of the justice system.