Jake Paul Announces Exhibition Match Against Gervonta “Tank” Davis

ATLANTA, Aug. 20, 2025 - Jake Paul, a YouTuber who became a boxer, will fight Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Davis holds the WBA lightweight title. This exhibition match is scheduled for Nov. 15 at State Farm Arena, sources say. The announcement follows the breakdown of Paul’s talks to fight Anthony Joshua. The collapse was due to broadcasting issues between Netflix and DAZN.

Officials say the match will be live on Netflix. This follows last November’s success with Paul’s unique event against Mike Tyson. On Wednesday, Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine shared news on social media. It sparked a lot of chatter in boxing circles.

Even though Paul weighs 227 pounds and Davis is 135 pounds as the lightweight champion, the fight is greenlit as an exhibition to avoid regulatory hurdles. Details on catchweight rules and round assignments are not public yet. However, insiders hint at a deal to create an exciting event, even without official approval.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who led talks for a Paul–Joshua fight, said today that only Paul’s changing interests could delay the Davis announcement. This suggests that the YouTuber’s own choices will decide his next opponent.

Fan reaction has been mixed. Critics on social media called the mismatch a “money grab.” They highlighted the big size gap and questioned if the event was truly a sport. People applauded Paul for bringing in another big name. This move also helped boxing reach more mainstream entertainment.

Paul (12–1, 7 KOs) earned a unanimous decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June. It was his first win over a former world champion. Davis (30–0–1, 28 KOs) came back strong after a controversial draw in May. He also dealt with a domestic violence charge in July that was dismissed. Still, he’s undefeated. The exhibition will mix athletic drama with entertainment. Paul is set to face big-name opponents, even outside his usual weight classes.