Well, the planned fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis is now off. Late last week, Davis found himself linked to another domestic violence allegation in Florida and is being accused by an ex-girlfriend of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The fight, which was set to take place in two weeks on Netflix, has officially been scrapped following the news in a statement from Most Valuable Promotions.
“Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly,” MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian stated. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We thank Netflix, the Kaseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for their partnership.”
Paul’s camp has reportedly already been seeking replacements for the troubled star. With that in mind, let’s look at five potential options, including boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Ryan Garcia
Following the allegations against Davis, reports emerged that his one-time opponent, Ryan Garcia, has been approached by Paul’s camp. After having one win in his last four following two losses and a no-contest from a PED suspension, Garcia’s stock has fallen to a place where a big payday to face Paul would appeal to him.
The big question is, would he be willing to take such a high-profile fight on very short notice, considering his recent struggles? If he does, it is just as dangerous a fight for “El Gallo” as the Davis fight was.
Roy Jones Jr.
When Paul’s booking with Mike Tyson had to be pushed back months, the heavyweight great’s one-time opponent, Roy Jones Jr, was willing to step in on short notice. While fight fans will scoff at the idea, many tuned in on Netflix to see Paul fight a three years old Tyson. Jones is a top-10 fighter all-time and offers some threats even at 56. He is not the sexiest option, but on such short notice, he has name value and a legendary resume for Netflix to market.
Vitor Belfort
MMA legend Vitor Belfort has made the transition to boxing in recent years and has had notable success. Including a first-round KO of boxing legend Evander Holyfield four years ago. Belfort would fit Paul’s history of beating UFC greats, and the 48-year-old’s power offers a threat on fight night. Again, he is not a preferred option, but if Netflix wants to still have Jake Paul fight on Nov. 14, he is an intriguing option who would be interested in the opportunity.
Darren Till
Former UFC star Darren Till has also transitioned to boxing of late, and the 32-year-old has looked good. The Englishman would certainly be good at selling the fight over the next two weeks, has decent name value, is in his athletic prime, and is a solid short-notice option. He should be on Team Paul’s replacement short list.
Manny Pacquiao
While unlikely, a dream scenario would be to replace Gervonta Davis with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. The 46-year-old returned to action earlier this year in a title fight against Mario Barrios, and many fight analysts thought he won the bout. “Pacman” still has massive name value and would be a perfect short-notice opponent that has just as good, if not better, name value for Netflix, while also offering a very real risk for Paul.
