Jake Paul is no longer fighting lightweight star Gervonta Davis in a couple of weeks, and his pursuit to find a replacement so he can still headline a card on Netflix this year just took a very unexpected turn.
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 with Paul, which was set to take place on Nov. 14, was officially canceled in a statement from Most Valuable Promotions on Monday.
“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.”
Since the allegations emerged, there has been speculation about who Paul could face instead, as well as rumors that reps from MVP have reached out to former Davis foe Ryan Garcia. However, on Tuesday, the search for a new opponent offered up a potential fight no one expected.
Jake Paul record: 12-1
“Dear Francis [Ngannou] – just say you already got humiliated in boxing and are scared to lose to Jake Paul. I accept that. You are light work, my friend. Stuck in mud,” Paul wrote in a post on X this morning.
In response to the left-field callout, the former UFC heavyweight champion let Paul know he needs to “stay in his lane.” “Choose your words wisely, boy,” Ngannou wrote. “I agree that you need someone to discipline you for what you did to Mike Tyson, but stay in your lane.”
Of course, Paul was not going to let the comment go unanswered. “My lane helped your lane. I spoke up for you over and over again,” he wrote on X. “No more. Look at yourself in the mirror. God doesn’t like ugly. Maybe the truth is you are a fake, holier-than-thou actor, when it’s always been just about you.
“Maybe use your platform to speak on the youth of your country (posting a flag ain’t it), instead of doing TMZ interviews like a con man to talk about me. Reality check…I sleep you in boxing.”
Paul vs. Ngannou could set up Paul vs. Joshua in 2026
He followed the retort up with a video of him and UFC star Sean O’Malley in fat suits training, with the caption: “The move to heavyweight starts now.”
This does not seem like a coincidence and is probably the early stages of a fight promotion no one saw coming. However, the booking does make some sense. There have been rumblings for months about a potential fight between Jake Paul and heavyweight great Anthony Joshua. A win over Ngannou, a very big man and dangerous who has fought Joshua and Tyson Fury, could prove he is capable of a clash with the Englishman.
On a technical level and on short notice, the Ngannou bout is winnable. However, the Cameroonian is one of the hardest hitters on the planet. It wouldn’t take much to put “El Gallo” to sleep in a fight.
