The highly anticipated showdown between Jake Paul and Gervonta “Tank” Davis has officially been scrapped, leaving boxing fans and Netflix subscribers without their November 14 main event. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix pulled the plug Monday night, citing Davis’s mounting legal troubles as the reason behind the cancellation.

This wasn’t just another fight falling through. This was supposed to be Paul’s chance to silence critics once and for all by stepping into the ring with a legitimate world champion—even if it was just an exhibition.

The Legal Storm That Sank the Fight

Davis finds himself drowning in controversy after his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, filed a civil lawsuit accusing the WBA lightweight champion of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The alleged incident took place at Tootsie’s Cabaret Miami, a strip club in Miami Gardens where Rossel works as a VIP cocktail hostess.

The situation escalated quickly. A judge granted Rossel a temporary restraining order against Davis, and her legal team subpoenaed videotape they believe captured the alleged attack. Jeff Chukwuma, one of Rossel’s attorneys, confirmed that the strip club’s general manager preserved the footage, though police are expected to obtain it first.

This isn’t Davis’s first dance with the law. The Baltimore native has faced multiple legal issues over the years, including domestic violence charges and a 2023 hit-and-run case that landed him 90 days of house arrest and three years of probation. Many of his cases have been dropped, but the pattern is troubling.

When reached for comment about the fight’s status before MVP’s official announcement, Davis was curt: “You don’t contact me,” he said before ending the call.

Paul’s Camp Scrambles for a Replacement

MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian tried to put a positive spin on the mess. “Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly,” he said in a statement. “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.”

But behind the scenes, Paul’s team was frantically searching for a replacement opponent to salvage the November 14 date. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou told TMZ Sports he’d been approached but declined the offer. MVP also reportedly reached out to Ryan Garcia, Andre Ward, and Nate Diaz—a desperate attempt to keep the Netflix spectacle alive.

None of those moves materialized, forcing the cancellation.

What This Fight Meant for Paul

The size disparity between the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Paul and the 5-foot-5, 138-pound Davis had already sparked debate about the legitimacy of this exhibition. Critics questioned whether it was a serious competitive bout or just another carefully orchestrated Paul production designed to generate headlines and revenue.

Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) has been trying to prove he belongs in boxing’s upper echelon despite his unconventional path to the sport. His only loss came against Tommy Fury, but he’s won his last six fights, including victories over Mike Tyson last November and Julio César Chávez Jr. in June.

A win over Davis—even in an exhibition—would have been Paul’s most impressive credential yet. “Once I beat this guy, more people will shut up,” Paul said in September. “This is a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter that I’m going to out-box… I’m going to show that this guy, who’s been doing it his whole life, has been doing it wrong his whole life.”

That opportunity is gone now.

Where Does Paul Go From Here?

With the Davis fight canceled and his Netflix date in limbo, Paul needs a new dance partner. The most intriguing possibility? Anthony Joshua.

Rumors of a Paul-Joshua matchup have circulated for months. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, hasn’t ruled it out, and he recently suggested there’s a “chance” Joshua returns to the ring later this year. With Paul hunting for a high-profile opponent to headline his 2025 Netflix event, Joshua could be the perfect fit.

The timing makes sense. Joshua is a former heavyweight champion looking to rebuild his legacy after consecutive losses. Paul is a social media star-turned-boxer desperate for mainstream credibility. It’s the kind of clash that generates massive pay-per-view numbers and endless social media chatter—exactly what Netflix wants.

The Bigger Picture

This cancellation reveals the precarious nature of Paul’s boxing career. He’s built his reputation on spectacle and carefully selected opponents, but when you start calling out legitimate champions like Davis, the real world intrudes. Legal issues, scheduling conflicts, and the messy realities of professional boxing can derail even the most hyped matchups.

For Davis, the legal storm continues. The Miami Gardens Police Department confirmed the matter is an “active case,” and with videotape evidence potentially in play, the situation could get worse before it gets better. His boxing future—let alone any exhibition with Paul—remains uncertain.

For Paul, this is another reminder that boxing isn’t like YouTube. You can’t control every variable, and sometimes your opponent’s personal life blows up your plans. He’ll bounce back—he always does—but the Davis fight represented something bigger than just another payday. It was a chance to prove he could hang with elite talent.

Now he’ll have to wait a little longer for that validation.

What’s Next?

Netflix and MVP promise another Paul-headlined event in 2025, with details on the date, location, and opponent coming soon. Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds within 14-21 days.

As for Paul’s next opponent? That’s anyone’s guess. Joshua remains the most exciting possibility, but Garcia, Diaz, or even a rematch with Fury could be on the table. What’s clear is that Paul’s team needs to move quickly to capitalize on the Netflix partnership and keep the momentum rolling.

The Davis fight would have been explosive. Now it’s just another what-if in boxing history.