Fans may have seen the last of Gervonta Davis in professional boxing.
Davis is set to face Jake Paul in an exhibition bout later this year. The controversial contest will headline an event at Miami’s Kaseya Center on November 14.
It marks the latest questionable matchup to raise eyebrows in the YouTuber-turned-pugilist’s career in the ring. After building up his record by facing past-their-prime MMA veterans, Paul fought 59-year-old Mike Tyson on Netflix in 2024.
A victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was more successful in adding to the Cleveland native’s legitimacy, even earning Paul a WBA ranking. But the announcement of an exhibition against a longtime lightweight has been widely criticized.
Unfortunately for those hoping to see ‘Tank’ back in championship-level professional bouts, the controversial Paul exhibition could mark his farewell.
Gervonta Davis plans to retire because ‘boxing is dead’
At just 30 years of age, Gervonta Davis is considered to be in his prime. But following a fight against Lamont Roach Jr. this past March that came under scrutiny when the referee ignored ‘Tank’ taking a knee, the WBA lightweight champion’s future is unclear.
Ahead of the Paul clash, Davis has made worrying remarks about his boxing status, describing the sport as being “dead.”
He shared that sentiment once again recently before deactivating his social media accounts. This time, however, it came alongside a retirement declaration.
“BOXING IS DEAD. I am (retiring) in 8 weeks,” Davis is said to have written.
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Ryan Garcia is among those criticizing Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis
The upcoming exhibition has received plenty of backlash, largely owing to the size difference between Paul and Davis. Among those most vocally against the contest is one of the latter’s ex-opponents.
Ryan Garcia was beaten by Davis after being stopped by a body shot in their April 2023 bout. After slamming his former foe’s next bout, ‘KingRy’ received a fiery response from Paul, who mocked the Californian’s loss to ‘Tank’.
Reacting to those remarks on X, Garcia laid into Paul for the Davis fight.
“It’s really sad to see how dishonest he is,” Garcia said.
“You are 200 pounds plus, you’ll make the 195-pound limit, then shoot to 215 most likely. And you lie to yourself to hype yourself up.
“You are fighting a 135-pound fighter, but you don’t see how that is a bit misleading,” Garcia continued. Lying to yourself sucks.”