Jake Paul’s Next Big Gamble: Tank Davis Exhibition Could Be Most Bizarre Spectacle Yet
Some sports stories are too crazy to be true. This Jake Paul versus Gervonta “Tank” Davis exhibition might just be crazy enough to actually happen. Will it end up coming to fruition?
The Heavyweight YouTuber Meets the Bantamweight Bomber
According to reports from Ring Magazine and a now-deleted Netflix Turkey post, Paul is set to face Davis in a Netflix exhibition match on November 15 at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. That is exactly one year after his Mike Tyson spectacle that had us all questioning the very fabric of reality.
We are talking about a 200-pound content creator who started boxing professionally in 2020, facing off against one of boxing’s most explosive punchers who typically fights around 135 pounds. It is like watching a heavyweight linebacker try to tackle a Formula 1 race car.
Why This Makes Zero Sense (And Perfect Sense)
Paul’s team at Most Valuable Promotions already threw cold water on the report, with co-founder Nakisa Bidarian stating, “Amazing how ‘sources’ have it confirmed but have it wrong.” The whole Anthony Joshua situation supposedly fell through due to “network issues,” which in boxing promoter speak usually means “somebody wanted more money than somebody else was willing to pay.” Joshua would have been a legitimate test for Paul, a former unified heavyweight champion who could have provided the kind of credibility boost the influence has been chasing.
Instead, we might get Davis, who is coming off a controversial draw with Lamont Roach and recently had domestic violence charges dropped after his ex-girlfriend refused to prosecute. Nothing says “exhibition match” quite like legal drama in the rearview mirror.
The Numbers Game That Doesn’t Add Up
Let’s talk about what we’re really looking at here. Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) is widely considered one of boxing’s elite talents. Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) just earned his first world ranking after beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a victory that was about as surprising as finding out water is wet.
The size difference is staggering. The influencer turned boxer will likely enter the ring with a 50+ plus pound advantage, which sounds great until you remember that Davis hits like a freight train made of dynamite. It is the classic “can the bigger guy survive the smaller guy’s power” equation. The difference is that this time it will happen on Netflix for millions of subscribers to witness.
Netflix’s Boxing Experiment Continues
Netflix knows how to generate buzz. The Paul-Tyson fight was a cultural moment, even if it left many fans feeling like they were duped. Now they are doubling down on the Paul brand, which makes business sense. The streaming giant has already committed to the Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford bout on September 13, proving they are serious about boxing content. Adding this fight to their lineup would give them another water-cooler moment, regardless of how the actual fight plays out.
What This Means For Boxing’s Future
Here is the thing that makes this whole situation both fascinating and frustrating: Paul has become boxing’s ultimate wildcard. He’s not the best fighter, but he’s undeniably the sport’s biggest draw for casual fans. Every time he steps in the ring, he brings millions of eyeballs that wouldn’t otherwise be watching boxing.
Davis, meanwhile, represents everything his opponent isn’t. Pure boxing pedigree, championship-level skills, and the kind of explosive power that can end fights in a heartbeat. It is a fascinating study in contrasts that could either be a one-sided demolition or a surprisingly competitive exhibition.
The Bottom Line
Whether this fight actually happens remains to be seen, but the mere possibility tells us everything we need to know about modern boxing. It is not always about the best facing the best. Sometimes it is about creating moments that people will talk about for years, whether those conversations are positive or negative.
Paul has built his entire boxing career on making the impossible seem inevitable. If he can convince a legitimate champion to step into the ring for an exhibition, even with the massive size advantage, it would be another feather in his promotional cap. Love him or hate him, he continues to push boxing into uncharted territory. This potential Davis fight might be the most intriguing mismatch since… well, since Paul fought a 58-year-old Tyson.
