It seems fans are outraged — in droves amid news of Jake Paul’s return to the ring against Gervonta Davis later this year.
Jake Paul, who had been at loggerheads with former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in preparation for a blockbuster pairing, has seemingly now pivoted from the clash.
- READ MORE — Anthony Joshua urged to fight Jake Paul next by star analyst: ‘It would be the most watched thing in the world’
But this evening, the showdown between Paul and Joshua was thrown into jeopardy, with Netflix Turkiye leaking a fight between Paul and current lightweight champion Gervonta Davis instead.
And as a result, fans have ripped Ohio star Paul for the pairing, questioning why a bout between him and Maryland knockout artist Davis was put together.
Jake Paul labelled ‘weight bully’ for booking Gervonta Davis bout
As reported this evening, Paul and Davis are in fact lined up to fight on November 15th — albeit in an exhibition showdown in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Jake Paul will face Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on November 15th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, in an exhibition live on Netflix, sources confirm to Mike Coppinger, The Ring posted on X.
“Talks for Paul to face Anthony Joshua collapsed over network issues. Paul’s last fight took place at 200lbs, while Davis is a champion at 135.”
Hitting out at Paul, a host of users on X labelled the upstart a “weight bully” — given his last fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. occured at 200lbs.
Another user praised Davis for putting his name to the lucrative matchup with Paul, writing, “Tank chasing the money I ain’t mad at ’em.”
A third user also heaped praise on Paul for playing up a fight with Davis, claiming it was the first “real” fighter the Ohio native was in line to face, tweeting, “Finally he’s fighting a real fighter.”
Another user took the chance to hit out at the sport, claiming boxing was likely going down a less than ideal path with the prospective clash, posting, “It’s truly sad to see boxing go this route.”
Jake Paul ripped Gervonta Davis’ last fight
Still clutching the WBA lightweight crown, albeit by the narrowest of margins, Davis fought to a majority decision draw against Lamont Roach earlier this year in a controversial result.
- READ MORE — Lamont Roach should fight an icon rather than Gervonta Davis, says ex-world champion… ‘He needs to move on’
And coming under fire from Paul for his performance, Davis was branded as “lucky” to keep both his championship belt and undefeated record off the back of his display.
Planting the seed for their potential November pairing in ‘Hotlanta’, in the hours before his walk to the ring in defense of the lightweight title, Paul claimed he would “destroy” Davis if they ever met.