On August 20, a bombshell dropped on the boxing world. Netflix’s Turkish account on X revealed that Jake Paul was set to face Gervonta Davis on November 15. The announcement shocked everyone, but it was later clarified that the actual date would be November 14. The bout was initially scheduled for State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, but reports suggest it will be moved to the Kaseya Center. And while fans were buzzing to see two of the most renowned stars step into the ring, dark clouds had already started to loom over this matchup! Why?
People have already been a little skeptical about whether this matchup would actually happen because of the enormous weight difference between the two fighters. While the weight discrepancy was part of the overall intrigue, some feared the fight wouldn’t be sanctioned with such a massive gap. And now, their worst fear might be coming true after the GC’s latest verdict. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis fight cancellation debunked
Those who wanted to see one of the most anticipated fights of this year, bad news for them. The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission has not yet made the bout official because of the massive size difference between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis. On Instagram, MMA fighting posted: “The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission has not officially approved the bout between Jake Paul and Tank Davis, citing the significant weight difference between the fighters.”
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Paul naturally fights at cruiserweight (around 200 pounds) and has even moved up to heavyweight, most recently challenging a 60-year-old Mike Tyson in a fight that was sanctioned as professional. Meanwhile, Davis is the reigning WBA lightweight champion, competing around 135 pounds. That’s a staggering discrepancy of around 65 pounds — and it’s become the main obstacle to this fight being made official. But does that mean the fight is off?
Well, here’s where the confusion comes in. Popular social media outlet Happy Punch posted on Instagram that GAEC chairman Rick Thompson and communications director Robert A. Sinners have declared the fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis isn’t actually happening.
Happy Punch posted on Instagram, “Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis have reportedly withdrawn their request for event permits in Atlanta, per the chairman of the Georgia State Commission, Rick Thompson. Robert A. Sinners, Communications Director for the Office of the Secretary of State, told USA TODAY the event “will not be happening” due to the weight discrepancy.
So, it seems the event has been jeopardized for now. But then came a twist. In the comments section, a fan asked Happy Punch, “Is the fight off or just moving somewhere else?” To which they replied, “It’ll be moved from Atlanta. Jake’s manager Nakisa said stay tuned.” So, nothing has been conclusive enough to actually declare this bout as canceled. Still, it’s clear that GAEC’s verdict has put a major restraint on the process.
That means it’s very possible Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis might not end up fighting each other. Or, even more interestingly, they could still feature on the same card but against different opponents. So, let’s break down who they could end up fighting if the actual bout doesn’t materialize.
Who are the replacements for ‘Problem Child’ and ‘Tank’?
At first, ‘The Problem Child’ could actually end up facing Darren Till if the ‘Tank’ fight slips away. Recently, the Brit scored a massive victory over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at the Misfits Boxing 22 event. Both Paul and Till have also gone back and forth to generate interest for a potential fight, and even former UFC champ Demetrious Johnson believes that’s the matchup Jake Paul should take.
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And then we come to Gervonta Davis. Sure, fans would’ve loved to see him test himself against a much bigger Jake Paul, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say audiences might settle for a Lamont Roach rematch. The Maryland fighter is the only one to ever put ‘Tank’ on skates after 30 undefeated professional bouts, scoring a draw against him. So, it would be fascinating to see who gets the last laugh in a high-stakes showdown once again.
With that being said, what do you think about Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis’ fight situation? Will it get canceled altogether, or will they eventually line up other opponents?