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Jake Paul’s exhibition boxing match with Gervonta Davis was canceled on Monday, just days after Davis was named in a civil lawsuit over an alleged domestic incident. The bout was originally set for Nov. 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami and was to be streamed live on Netflix. In a statement, Most Valuable Promotions — Paul’s company — said it still hopes to secure a new opponent for him before the end of the year. “Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized.” Promoters announced that fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will automatically receive refunds to their original payment method within 14 to 21 days. Those who purchased through secondary markets should reach out directly to those sellers. For additional help, contact Ticketoffice@heat.com. Lawsuit Alleges Pattern of Abuse in Recent Months Davis, the current WBA lightweight champion with a 30-0-1 record, is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel. According to Miami-Dade County court records, Rossel accuses him of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint filed Oct. 30 states that Rossel and Davis have known each other for about five years. Rossel alleges that Davis used violence against her on multiple occasions in September and October. Davis threatened to kill Rossel for failing to respond to his calls and messages, according to the complaint. “In his communications, Davis accused Rossel of being with another man and used abusive and threatening language, stating that he would kill her for being unresponsive,” the complaint states. Rossel accuses Davis of physical abuse, including choking, in public settings, like her workplace — an adult entertainment club in Miami. Rossel is requesting financial damages and a jury trial. Davis does not yet have an attorney listed in the records. Jake Paul Rips Into Tank Davis on Instagram After the fight was canceled, Paul tore into Davis on his Instagram Stories. “Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots. To the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man you support the most vile sin a man can commit,” Paul wrote. “I didn’t want to give this woman abuser a platform to grow his fans and to grow his bank account. My company champions women. I’m so sorry to everyone involved. Mostly to the undercard fighters, to my team at MVP and to my team who worked so hard prepping for this fight. Sacrificing time with loved ones and kids just for this fool to lose his unintelligent mind again. It’s scary that devilish men like this can rise to the top of culture and sports, including in positions of power. “I hope you people moving forward look beyond his fake streetwear pieces ‘SWAG’ and search for something deeper to be a fan of.” Jake Paul Looking for New Opponent The canceled fight would have marked Paul’s first matchup against an opponent with a credible active boxing record. The former YouTube star holds a 12-1 record with seven knockouts but has primarily faced MMA fighters and athletes with limited boxing backgrounds. His only loss came against Tommy Fury — the sole professional boxer he has fought. Paul is currently ranked No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight division. Last November, Paul easily defeated 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in an eight-round exhibition match. The planned bout with Davis was set to be an unconventional one. At their most recent weigh-ins, Paul came in at 199.4 pounds while Davis weighed 133.8. Paul stands 6-foot-1, compared to Davis’s 5-foot-5 frame. With the cancellation, Paul and his promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions, are now searching for a new opponent. Paul and UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou exchanged verbal jabs after Ngannou dismissed the idea of replacing Davis, calling the proposal “disrespectful.” Earlier this year, Paul was in talks to face Canelo Álvarez, but Álvarez ultimately chose to fight Terence Crawford instead. Other potential opponents mentioned for Paul include Edgar Berlanga and Anthony Joshua.
