Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis: What to Know
By Eddie Sanchez
When it was announced that Jake Paul’s next opponent will be WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis on Friday, Nov. 14, at Kaseya Center in Miami, it came as a huge surprise to everyone in the industry. Jake Paul had been in the news for a potential heavyweight showdown with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Davis had been linked to a rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. after their majority draw earlier this year. However, Paul and Davis came to an agreement on Aug. 20 for a fight between two of the biggest names in boxing that is labeled as an exhibition.
How did it come together, what happened to the other names each fighter was linked to and, ultimately, what does it all mean? Let’s try to make sense of this fight between a 135-pound world champion and a YouTuber-turned-prizefighter who last fought at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds.
Why is Jake Paul fighting Gervonta Davis?
In August 2021, Paul revealed a “hit list” of opponents he wanted to fight. At the time, Paul was 3-0 in his boxing career with wins over fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, NBA Legend Nate Robinson and MMA fighter Ben Askren. The future opponents list included Tyron Woodley (who Paul was slated to fight later that month), Canelo Alvarez, UFC fighters Nate or Nick Diaz, Kamaru Usman and Conor McGregor, boxers Tommy Fury, Gervonta Davis, fellow YouTuber KSI and Paul’s older brother, Logan, who now competes in WWE.
He has since fought three people on that list (Nate Diaz, Fury and Woodley, twice). Davis will be the fourth. In 2021, many of these names seemed out of reach, considering Paul’s lack of experience, but as his stature in the sport has grown, Paul has become a name that many fighters want to fight because of the tremendous visibility and financial upside it brings. Davis has long shown interest in fighting Paul, and the two have sent jabs at each other on social media.
Earlier this year, the two sides negotiated a fight, but when Davis fought to a surprising majority draw with Roach in March, plans were put on hold. Paul found Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. while Davis mulled his options. Ultimately, Davis put the rematch with Roach on the back burner and finalized the deal with Paul.
What should we expect following this fight?
A lot of that depends on the result. A win by Paul would offer him a prime opportunity to fight someone his own size in Anthony Joshua (or whoever he wants, if we are being honest). For Tank, the rumor on the street is that he will be retiring regardless of the outcome. He may take a page out of the Mayweather playbook and only temporarily retire, but an absence should be expected.
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