The WBA has officially designated Gervonta Davis as lightweight champion in recess following developments at the title. The sanctioning body has ordered Floyd Schofield to face Lucas Bahdi for the vacant belt.
The WBA has designated Gervonta Davis as lightweight champion in recess and ordered a title fight between Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi to determine the division's new active champion, the sanctioning body announced on June 26.
The "champion in recess" designation allows Davis to retain his WBA recognition while stepping away from active title defenses, a status the organization uses when a champion cannot immediately fulfill mandatory obligations. With the active belt now vacant, the WBA has moved to install a new titleholder by ordering the Schofield and Bahdi matchup.
Why it matters
- The WBA lightweight title will have a new active champion once Schofield and Bahdi meet, reshaping the division's landscape.
- Davis retains a path back to full WBA recognition, meaning the winner of the ordered bout could face a future unification challenge.
- Schofield and Bahdi now have the opportunity to claim major sanctioning body gold, elevating both fighters' profiles considerably.
The ordered bout puts the lightweight division in an interesting position, with two separate WBA champions potentially coexisting until circumstances allow for a consolidation fight. How quickly Schofield and Bahdi can agree to terms and secure a date will determine how long the vacancy persists at the top of the 135-pound class.
