Jake Paul will fight the unbeaten Gervonta Davis on November 14 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia in a bout that will be streamed live on Netflix, promoters said on Wednesday.
Davis has been the WBA lightweight champion since Devin Haney vacated the belt in 2023, but the American’s title will not be on the line against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul due to the size difference between the two boxers.
Paul, a cruiserweight, weighed in at 199.4 pounds (90.45 kg) ahead of his win over Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June, while Davis fought Lamont Roach at 133.8 pounds in March.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) was in talks to face the former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next, but the bout has reportedly collapsed due to network issues. The internet star-turned-boxer defeated his second former world champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., in June by unanimous decision in California to earn his first world ranking.
It was widely believed that Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) would rematch Lamont Roach on Aug. 16 after the pair fought to a controversial draw this past March, following Davis’ infamous kneel-down controversy. The two-division champion, however, was forced to trade a fight date for a court date after being arrested for a misdemeanor battery-domestic violence charge in July, after his ex-girlfriend accused him of striking her on the back of her head and slapping her at an alleged altercation on June 15. The charge was dropped this past week after the alleged victim refused to prosecute.
Roach told Boxing Scene — the media outlet owned by his co-promoter ProBoxTV — that he was “moving on” from a rematch with “Tank” on Friday, as he believed Davis’ camp wasn’t interested in an immediate rematch.
Paul vs. Davis could be compelling viewing. Davis is vastly more experienced than Paul, but he will likely enter the ring at a 50-pound-plus size disadvantage.