It took just one fight for Jake Paul to make the boxing world sit up and pay attention. Sure, he was already a massive name thanks to his YouTube fame and a loyal Gen Z fanbase—but after that high-profile clash with Mike Tyson last November, everything changed. His bank account got a serious $40 million boost (something only the top 0.1% of boxers make), and more importantly, his name started circulating as a viable opponent for elite boxers. Who wouldn’t want to get rich, right? There was even serious chatter about a potential showdown with Canelo Alvarez. But as quickly as the buzz started, it fizzled out. And just like that, Jake Paul was left hanging—no opponent, no fight, no plan.
Soon after, Gervonta Davis’ name got thrown into the mix. If it weren’t for the draw on March 1, Tank would have definitely fought Jake Paul next. However, with Tank focused on the rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. next, there is no chance of that happening anytime soon, right? Well, don’t be too sure. After the talk of a Tank matchup, even a potential matchup with Anthony Joshua was being tossed around, thanks to him calling out AJ on his podcast last month. Now here’s where things get interesting. A few hours ago, Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn had a casual chat with FightHype—and let’s just say, he might’ve accidentally let a major Jake Paul update slip regarding these two names.
Smart business or a risky bet for Jake Paul?
As Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn get ready to finally square off in the ring tomorrow, Eddie Hearn was doing the media rounds, giving his thoughts on the fight. Nothing unusual at first. But then, the conversation took a turn. Hearn got hit with a curveball question about Jake Paul’s next fight with Julio César Chávez Jr., scheduled for June 28. To answer the question, the Matchroom boss said, “Listen, I think if Chavez Jr. comes in any kind of shape, in any kind of desire, maybe it can be. It’s not a terrible fight.” Cool, expected. But then, Eddie Hearn casually blurted out, “You know that Gervonta [Davis] is gonna fight Jake Paul in November. And then we’ll see what happens if there’s an AJ fight.”
And of course, if the 11-1 boxer somehow ends up in the ring with Anthony Joshua, the buzz would be insane. Yeah, most people believe AJ would absolutely steamroll him, but come on—you know fans would tune in just to see how long Jake Paul could last. Could he survive even a few rounds with the former unified heavyweight champion? That alone is a headline-maker. Hearn knows it too. So he wasn’t shy about the potential, adding, “Be interested to go from Gervonta Davis to Anthony Joshua.”
The British promoter did wrap things up by circling back to Chávez Jr., calling the matchup “a smart bit of business.” But even then, he couldn’t help but hint at doubt, saying, “Hopefully, Chavez can get himsef up for it… He’s been through a lot. But he was once a decent fighter. It was a long time ago.”
Absurd matchups=Upset fans
Now think about this for a second. Chris Eubank Sr. once called his own son’s fight with Conor Benn “illegal” because of a two-weight-class difference between the fighters. Meanwhile, we’re already talking about Gervonta Davis, a lightweight, going up against Jake Paul, a natural cruiserweight who last fought at heavyweight. It’s a wild mismatch—maybe even more bizarre than when Jake Paul stepped in the ring with Mike Tyson, who was 31 years older than him. One fan nailed it perfectly, writing, “Tank is clearly the better boxer but Jake is like 200lbs 😂 this may not go well and I’m a Tank fan.” The internet wasn’t holding back. Seeing how absurd the matchup is on paper, one user wrote, “Nah this is the most shameless match up of all time 😂😂😂.”
Another fan chimed in, clearly over The Problem Child’s opponent choices: “Why does Jake fight everyone so much smaller then him.” And some folks weren’t just mocking it—they were frustrated. “Boxing just gimmick fights,” one user said, fed up with the sport’s increasing focus on spectacle fights over genuine matchups.
Of course, not everyone was writing Jake Paul off. Some fans believe in Tank’s punching power, no matter the size difference. One even warned, “Rip Jake,” putting their faith in the WBA lightweight champion.
Meanwhile, another fan took a more measured approach, saying, “It would be an exhibition at best and gervonta would still tear him down badly.” Honestly, that might be the most realistic take, especially since veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported just last month that the two were being lined up for an exhibition after the Baltimore native handled business in his March 1st fight.
Still, most were upset with the mention of the strange matchups. “We don’t want this,” one user wrote, echoing what a lot of die-hard fans are thinking. But maybe the most brutally honest comment of all? “If it’s making him a lot of money he probably doesn’t care.” And there it is—welcome to boxing in 2025.
As of now, we still don’t know what kind of fight this is actually going to be. But if Gervonta Davis really decides to step in the ring with Jake Paul, it’ll definitely leave a lot of boxing fans dismayed. Potential matchups with legit contenders like Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson would still be on the table, sure—but with both of them locked into their own fights and Gervonta hinting at retirement, fans are just waiting to see what direction he actually goes next. And hey, let’s be real—after watching Jake Paul walk away with a win against Mike Tyson, you gotta wonder: could he actually pull it off again against Gervonta Davis?
