YouTube star turned professional boxer Jake Paul has officially walked away from negotiations with Anthony Joshua and will instead take on Gervonta “Tank” Davis in what promises to be one of the most talked-about fights of the year.
Talks between Paul and Joshua, the British-Nigerian former heavyweight champion, had been ongoing for months but reportedly collapsed due to disputes over broadcasting rights and approval from British boxing authorities. Paul had previously boasted that he would present a greater challenge for Joshua than Francis Ngannou, yet those claims will remain untested after the breakdown of talks.
The American, known in the ring as “The Problem Child,” has now confirmed his return against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis. The exhibition contest will be streamed live on Netflix from Atlanta on November 14, with the fighters teasing the clash on social media with the tagline: “Size vs Speed, Power vs Precision. One will rise and one will fall.”
The announcement marks a dramatic shift for Paul, who is moving from heavyweight ambitions to facing a much smaller but highly skilled opponent. Davis is widely regarded as one of boxing’s finest pound-for-pound athletes, entering the bout with an unbeaten record of 30 wins, one draw, and 28 knockouts.
Paul heads into the fight riding the publicity of his recent showdown with Mike Tyson in Texas, a spectacle that elevated his profile in the boxing world. Now, by targeting Davis, he hopes to keep his momentum while continuing to blur the lines between boxing entertainment and elite competition.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua may not have to wait long for another major headline fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn is already working on a potential all-British super fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury in 2026, a long-anticipated clash that could become one of the biggest events in boxing history.
As Paul and Davis prepare for their exhibition and Joshua looks ahead to Fury, the next 12 months are shaping up to deliver some of the sport’s most intriguing matchups, keeping fans and promoters alike on edge.
