Jake Paul has decided to call off his upcoming fight with Gervonta Davis following serious allegations made against Davis by his ex-girlfriend, including battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.
The exhibition bout between Paul and Davis was scheduled to take place in Miami on November 14. Despite the weight difference, with Davis competing in the lightweight division and Paul in the cruiserweight category, the fight was set to be a non-professional match where a winner would be determined either by stoppage or by judges, including an AI official, if the bout went the distance.
Due to the allegations against Davis, Most Valuable Promotions has opted to seek a new opponent for Paul. The decision was accompanied by Paul publicly condemning Davis, referring to him as ‘an actual walking human piece of garbage.’
Davis has yet to respond to the accusations, while his trainer, Calvin Ford, dismissed them as baseless claims. The lawsuit filed by Davis’s ex-partner, Courtney Rossel, alleges that Davis assaulted her at her workplace on October 27 and had previously made threats against her life. Rossel also claims that Davis physically attacked and choked her on multiple occasions, seeking damages of $50,000 and a jury trial.
Nakisa Bidarian, the CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, stated that despite the cancellation of the fight, the plan remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding the rescheduled event, including the location, opponent for Paul, and additional bouts, will be disclosed once finalized.
In response to the situation, Paul expressed his frustration with working with Davis, highlighting unprofessional behavior, strange demands, tardiness, and legal issues. He urged his followers not to support Davis, denouncing his actions as reprehensible.
Although Ryan Garcia was initially considered as a replacement for Davis, the fight is not feasible due to contractual obligations. Promoter Oscar De La Hoya explained the contractual conflicts between Garcia, DAZN, Golden Boy, and Netflix, making the matchup unattainable at this time.
On another front, Eddie Hearn hinted at a potential surprising match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua in the future. Hearn’s comments followed his observation that Joshua might not step into the ring again this year, with their focus on confirming a February bout.
Hearn emphasized the ongoing training of Joshua and the likelihood of his return in February, acknowledging the possibility of a late 2025 fight but maintaining that February is the target date for now.
