“After next year, I’m out of it,” Gervonta Davis said last year before his fight against Lamont Roach Jr. “Yeah, out of this sport.” He reiterated his desire again in a media scrum after his press conference with Roach. “This s— is trash, garbage. Fed up. I’m fed up with the whole s—.” His resentment towards the sport had grown so much that all he wanted was to live in the shadows. “I just want to be able to make money and stay out the way, that’s it,” Davis said.
“I want to be living without being seen.” This followed the worst performance of his career, as Lamont Roach Jr. pushed the Baltimore native to his literal knees. By the end, many felt Gervonta Davis had finally lost a fight, but the official results were a majority decision draw. Now, instead of a rematch, the 30-year-old is fighting Jake Paul in an exhibition fight. However, his desire to exit the sport remains intact, something he revealed on social media recently.
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Gervonta Davis has 8 more weeks
Ahead of his exhibition with Jake Paul, Gervonta Davis took to X and declared, “Boxing definitely did a turn..it went from this side to that side..and this s— has no loyalty so why would I care, I move accordingly.. BOXING IS DEAD.” When a fan replied urging him to retire sooner, the Baltimore native doubled down, responding: “I am.. In 8 weeks.”
If Davis follows through, the Paul exhibition could mark the final time fans see him lace up the gloves. The undefeated star currently holds a professional record of 30-0-1, with 28 wins coming by knockout. While the bout won’t affect his record since it’s an exhibition, the stakes are still real. The fight will feature ringside judges, and if it goes the distance, the winner will be announced just like in a sanctioned bout.
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According to the rules, the fight is set at a 195-pound catchweight, with 12-ounce gloves across 10 three-minute rounds. The matchup presents Davis with a unique risk. Should he lose due to the size disparity, it could cast another shadow over his career following the controversial knee incident in his last fight. Still, Davis seems resolute about walking away from boxing, even as the sport enters a golden era of massive paydays.
Earlier this year, Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford split a staggering $200 million purse, with Canelo banking $150 million and Crawford $50 million. As Davis prepares to bow out, the only question remains: can he make his final appearance in the ring truly spectacular?
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Shakur Stevenson predicts ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Jake Paul
Shakur Stevenson has weighed in on the upcoming Netflix exhibition between Gervonta Davis and Jake Paul, set for November 14. Speaking on The Ring Champs with AK & Barak, Stevenson questioned Davis’ decision to bypass a rematch with Lamont Roach Jr., following their majority draw in March.
“It just depends, like as a fighter, just because I had a draw with somebody, for me, I may run it back, but in a business aspect… if you lose to Lamont and then the Jake Paul fight is presented, you may not make as much money,” Stevenson explained. While he respects the business move, Stevenson noted, “As a man, your pride will get in the way.”
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He suggested Davis doubts beating Roach again and is prioritizing money before retiring.
From the looks of it, Gervonta Davis has already packed his bags and is ready to board the retirement flight. But should anyone really be surprised? Many pro boxers take a Jake Paul-type fight as a final cash-out before stepping away from the sport. The question now is—what do you make of Davis’ decision?