YouTuber-turned-cruiserweight boxer Jake Paul and undefeated WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis will fight on November 14 at Atlanta's State Farm Arena. Netflix announced the highly unusual matchup, which will stream worldwide to the platform's more than 300 million subscribers.
The fight presents an extraordinary size mismatch that raises serious questions about competitive fairness. Paul typically weighs more than 200 pounds in the ring, while Davis is a 135-pound champion who has never fought above 140 pounds.
Boxing credentials clash
Davis brings an undefeated record of 30-0-1 with 28 knockouts as a three-division world champion. The 30-year-old has been marketed as "the modern day Mike Tyson" due to his knockout frequency.
Paul holds a 12-1 professional record with seven knockouts. After beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr earlier this summer, the 28-year-old entered the World Boxing Association's cruiserweight rankings at number 14, making him eligible to fight for world titles.
Exhibition status unclear
Georgia boxing officials have not clarified whether the bout will be sanctioned as a competitive fight or exhibition. The fighters have not announced a contracted weight or number of rounds for their planned encounter.
Paul returns to Netflix following his victory over 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November, which drew an estimated 108 million global viewers. He recently discussed a potential fight with two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua before shifting focus to Davis.
Recent struggles and controversy
Davis has faced significant challenges in 2025, struggling to a shocking draw against Lamont Roach Jr in his most recent fight in March. He was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Florida last month, though the misdemeanour battery case was dropped last week.
Davis would be the first star boxer near his prime to face Paul, the online celebrity who has become one of the world's highest-paid combat sports athletes. The two fighters have jousted on social media for years before this announcement.
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's business partner, said the fighters are "favourites of the Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences" and their bout will "determine the true face of boxing's next generation." Netflix vice president Brandon Riegg said: "This isn't just a fight, it's a spectacle that brings together two of the most electrifying figures in boxing today."
Sources used: "AP", "Independent", "Daily Mail", "BBC", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
