Jake Paul has shocked the boxing world again by confirming he will step into the ring for an exhibition bout with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, putting aside talks of a potential fight with Anthony Joshua until next year. The contest is scheduled for November 14 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with Paul making the announcement on social media on Wednesday.
The matchup comes with a striking size difference between both men. Paul, who fights around the 200lb cruiserweight limit, will be facing Davis, the current WBA lightweight champion, who has never weighed above 140lbs. Davis will not be defending his title in the exhibition, but the pairing has still generated headlines due to the unusual circumstances.
Paul had long been linked with a sensational clash against Joshua, a two-time unified heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist. Promoter Eddie Hearn admitted talks had taken place but described the concept as bizarre, while Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian insisted Paul could present a tougher test for Joshua than Francis Ngannou. That matchup is now being looked at for early 2026.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer has little experience at heavyweight. His only bout in the division came earlier this year against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, in a fight sanctioned for eight two-minute rounds with heavier gloves. He previously lost to Tommy Fury at 185lbs in 2023 but also holds a win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a former middleweight world champion whose title reign ended back in 2012.
Joshua, meanwhile, still has other names in his orbit. French Olympic champion Tony Yoka recently signed with British promoters Queensberry, while the most anticipated option remains a long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury. However, Fury has once again dismissed talk of a comeback, saying boxing is a young man’s game and pointing to his greying beard as proof of retirement.
For now, Paul will take on Davis in what promises to be an intriguing event. Despite standing just 5ft 5½in compared to Paul’s 6ft 1in, Davis is one of the most accomplished fighters in the United States. He has captured world titles at both super-featherweight and lightweight, knocked out Ryan Garcia in a career-defining performance, and most recently fought Frank Martin to a draw.
While Paul’s size and weight advantage are clear, Davis’ pedigree, experience and reputation make this a fascinating matchup that once again blurs the lines between celebrity boxing and the professional fight game.
