Gervonta Davis Custom Ring Gear Inside Look

Gervonta “Tank” Davis is one of the stars defining this era of boxing. It isn’t just about what the undefeated WBA lightweight champion does to his opponents inside the ring that has made him a household name. Davis has also become known as a modern-day style icon, in and out of the ring.

In past bouts, he’s worn custom gear from high-profile brands like Tremaine Emory’s Denim Tears and Nigo’s Human Made. Most notably, he wore a pair of leather trunks covered in Chrome Hearts’ signature rainbow crosses for his bout against Frank Martin in June 2024. 

Davis is a bit of a Chrome fiend. He trains with a Chrome Hearts punching bag. You can expect at least one piece from the brand on his body at all times. He even recently made headlines when he called out the brand and said he wanted to do an official line with them. 

For his title fight with Lamont Roach Jr. at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on March 1, Tank left his Chrome in the closet. Instead, he commissioned two of New York City’s most promising young creatives, image maker Bladimir Corniel and Barriers founder Steven Barter, to create his official ring gear.

Corniel and Davis initially connected on Instagram just a few weeks ago. Corniel was helping the champion plan his walk-out in Brooklyn, but the conversation eventually evolved to include his attire. Another well-known designer was initially supposed to make the gear for the bout, but Corniel convinced Davis to reconsider. He immediately reached out to Barter to help plan the special project, and Davis gave them the green light. 

“[Gervonta is] a visionary. He still understands where trends are set, who’s moving the needle, who’s actually the taste makers,” says Corniel. “He was able to recognize that and really put trust in me. It is a testament to his vision.”

The turnaround for the project was quick. Corniel and Barter completed everything in roughly two and a half weeks. The entire kit was produced in Los Angeles. Barter tapped into his network of graphic designers and manufacturers that he works with for Barriers to execute everything as efficiently as possible. 

“I conceptualized it. [Barter] brought it to life,” says Corniel. “It’s designed by me, engineered by Barter.”

Despite Barter’s involvement, this isn’t an official collaboration with his brand Barriers. Instead, it’s a way for him to grow his portfolio beyond his successful streetwear brand. “I want to start branding myself outside of my brand. I’m my own business,” says Barter. “This was like Michael Jordan asking me to do his first sneaker.” 

The main event kit included a pair of camouflage trunks, a bomber jacket for his walk to the ring (instead of a traditional boxing robe), and a military cap with ear flaps. Each is accented by Swarovski crystals including an outline of an army tank on the back of the jacket, a nod to Davis’ nickname. To align with the premium aesthetic that Davis has become known for, all of the pieces were made out of lambskin leather. The trunks are lined with orange satin. 

“The fit is so good that he could put on sneakers after the fight and wear that fit to the club,” says Barter. “Gervonta spends a lot of money on fashion, so we had to present a quality that’s similar to what he’s buying already. This is Prada and Chrome put together. The quality is beautiful.”

Of course, the gear has to be functional too. Slight tweaks had to be made like widening the shorts for easier range of motion or adjusting the length of the waistband to fit a protective cup. The bomber jacket was one of the biggest challenges. Typically, boxers will walk out wearing robes with wide sleeves so that they can easily be slipped over the bulky gloves when they get to the ring. In order to maintain the traditional bomber jacket silhouette with tighter cuffs, they had to add zippers that run up the back of each sleeve.

The decision to make the items camo was not just a nod to Davis’ nickname, but also the gritty street style of ’90s New York City worn by icons like Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and Mobb Deep. “That style is timeless,” says Corniel. “We brought that essence and revamped it with our touch.”

Barter and Corniel also designed black tops for his training team complete with camo trims, and giant GTD logos across the back. A capsule of similar merch will be available to fans. It includes tees, tanks, and sweats featuring a “Tank” logo flip inspired by vintage Nine Inch Nails merch.

Barter and Corniel said that Davis was very cooperative throughout the process, and was excited to see their vision come to life. “He put a lot of trust in me, somebody that he hadn’t met,” says Corniel. “[Gervonta] giving us this opportunity to show our art on a big platform is worth more than money. It doesn’t have to be financial to help somebody grow.”

This venture marks a new chapter for Tank. Rather than promote established labels in the ring, he is able to spotlight his own brand. His GTD logo is prominently bedazzled on the chest of his bomber jacket and hat. It’s the first step in building a trademark that has longevity beyond his fighting career, something we haven’t seen in the professional boxing world since Floyd Mayweather’s TMT. 

Barter and Corniel hope that other up-and-coming creatives will be inspired by what they have been able to execute on such a grand stage with one of the biggest athletes in the world. 

“That’s what I do it for,” says Corniel. “To show those kids that come from where I come from what I have going on and how accessible it is if you really apply yourself. Look what I’m doing.”