The internet is already buzzing — and not in a good way.
When YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul announced he’d fight undefeated lightweight champ Gervonta “Tank” Davis on Nov. 14 in Atlanta, fans didn’t cheer. They rolled their eyes.
The reason? It doesn’t add up. Paul, a cruiserweight who weighs over 200 pounds, is set to face Davis, a natural 135-pounder who has never fought above 140. That’s a 65-pound gap — the kind of mismatch boxing commissions usually laugh out of the room.
Netflix, which will stream the bout worldwide, calls it a “spectacle.” But critics say that’s code for scripted circus. Social media lit up with comparisons to Paul’s Mike Tyson fight, where viewers accused both men of “going easy” to sell entertainment.
“This isn’t boxing, it’s WWE with gloves,” one fan posted on X.
“Tank’s too small. If it’s real, he gets crushed. If it’s fake, fans get played.”
Even stranger, Paul was recently ranked No. 14 by the WBA after beating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. — making him eligible for a world title shot. Instead of chasing a cruiserweight belt, he picked a fight with a much smaller man.
Davis, once billed as a “modern-day Mike Tyson” for his knockout power, has had a rocky year — a draw with Lamont Roach Jr. and a domestic violence arrest. Critics argue this matchup is less about legacy and more about cashing in on Gen Z clicks.
Promoter Nakisa Bidarian insists it’s real: “This isn’t just a fight, it’s a spectacle that brings together two of the most electrifying figures in boxing today.”
Still, fans aren’t convinced. With no announced weight limit or round count, boxing purists fear this will be another “preplanned show fight” dressed up as history.