An unlikely spectacle is taking shape: cruiserweight influencer-boxer Jake Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) is reportedly set to face WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) in an exhibition on November 14 at State Farm Arena, Atlanta. Per reports, the bout will stream on Netflix, with weight details still to be finalized.
It’s a matchup born of reach rather than reason. Paul, fresh off abandoned talks with heavyweight Anthony Joshua, has pivoted to Davis - a far smaller but vastly more accomplished professional - to stage a high-attention event that won’t touch either man’s official record. The exhibition tag underscores what this is: entertainment first.
Watch Tank vs. Roach highlights: Watch
For Davis, coming off a debated draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in March, the Paul encounter is both lucrative and low-risk, but it will fuel criticism that he’s swerving a Roach rematch and other divisional threats. The Baltimore star’s blend of elite talent and off-ring turbulence makes the optics even more polarizing.
Watch Paul vs. Chavez Jr. highlights: Watch
For Paul, the upside is obvious: a megawatt name opposite him on a massive platform. Yet even a dominant showing over a much smaller opponent won’t rewrite his competitive résumé. As one assessment put it, this is “less fighting than it is entertainment” - and judged on that scale, it’s already doing its job.
Fight card:
▪️Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis, exhibition bout
