Jake Paul was scheduled to face Gervonta 'Tank' Davis in Miami on November 14. But it was reported last week that Davis was involved in another domestic dust up last week at a gentlemen's club. Davis was named in a civil suit over an incident that took place on October 27. Which if I didn't know better was just a few weeks before this bout.
If you can't find true, everlasting love with a VIP cocktail waitress at Tootsies, is there hope for the rest of us?
We really shouldn't be all that surprised by this development. The reality is that we are actually stunned when something like this doesn't happen with Davis. Trouble just doesn't happen to find Davis. Davis for all his talent inside the ring is an extremely troubled individual outside of it. If you recall, he got into another unscheduled fight with another female prior to his bout in 2023 against Hector Luis Garcia, but that situation was brushed aside and that fight went on as scheduled.
So this is nothing new, only this time around it looks like this time around it may actually cost him the fight. In the aftermath of this news, MVP (Paul's promotional company) released this statement:
What was believed to be a high-profile event at the Kaseya Center was actually having issues moving tickets. Maybe PT Barnum was wrong in this instance. Could it be a sign that there is a bit of a fatigue with these type of events, or maybe there are just better entertainment options in the 305?
Regardless, over the weekend there were various reports that MVP/Paul was reaching out to the likes of Ryan Garcia to replace Davis. Which was quickly shot down by the head of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya. Later on names like Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz were brandied about.
If those two guys don't get the fight, maybe they'll reach out to Tito Ortiz and Tank Abbot.
Chris Mannix reported that this fight card (which includes an interesting match-up between WBA junior welterweight titlist, Gary Antuanne Russell, and Andy Hiroaka) could be moved to December. So the show must/will go on. It just may not be with the same boxers or date.
As for Davis, well, this was as inevitable as death and taxes.
TITLE SHOT
Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine is reporting that a bout between WBC welterweight belt-holder, Mario Barrios, and Ryan Garcia is in the works for the first quarter of 2026. Barrios is coming off his draw against Manny Pacquiao back in July.
But it has to be asked why is Garcia getting this title shot? (I mean, I know why, after all, this is professional boxing). But Garcia is coming off a lopsided loss to Rollie Romero in May in what will be the only fight of 2025. I get it, he's popular, but shouldn't there be at least a modicum of standards enforced when it comes to these things?
Ring
Also, as of October 22, Garcia was not listed in the top 15 by the WBC at 147. I'm sure that will be taken care off soon enough. Not that it ever really mattered.
He has become boxing's version of 'pretty privilege'.
WBO
In light of the controversial ending between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley last week, I asked Gustavo Oliveiri, the head of the WBO, if Parker's side had filed any protest or asked that an immediate rematch be mandated. Keep this in mind, that fight was contested for the WBO interim champion, so whoever has that belt has an inside track at Oleksandr Usyk.
Queensbery
Oliveiri told me via text that nothing of the sort had been requested by Parker.
OK, it's as simple as that.
