‘Tank’ doesn’t care.
The first Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis press conference rolled into New York City yesterday (Mon. Sept. 22, 2025), bringing with it the usual spectacle that follows “Tank” and boxing’s
most polarizing crossover star. The two fighters shared the stage in front of a packed media row, with Paul leaning into his showmanship and Davis staying locked in on the task at hand.
Despite the hype, many observers can’t shake the feeling that this matchup is more about the box office than the boxing. After all, Davis has clear, legacy-driven opponents waiting in the wings — from a rematch with Lamont Roach to potential massive showdowns with Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson.
That growing concern bubbled to the surface when a reporter directly asked Davis why he chose Paul over those names and what he thought about the backlash that has followed.
“Tank” didn’t hold back.
“Why should I care? Why should I care what they think when you switch up?” Davis said. “Someone could have a bad fight and ya’ll switch who your favorite fighter is or who this person should fight. Ya’ll need to sit back, be fans, and enjoy the sport. Ya’ll even talk about people’s personal lives. When did it come to that?
“You guys keep talking about me fighting [Haney],” Davis continued. “Didn’t he just have a fight? What happened? What happened? He won, right? How did he look in it? — Exactly. But ya’ll say some different shit when it’s me because ya’ll want me to lose money.”
“When you see people in the limelight for so long, they want people to come and take their spot,” Davis concluded. “That’s what happened with Floyd [Mayweather]. You saw him too much, and once you saw him too much, you started hating on him. It turned from love to hate.”
The matchup with Paul has drawn skepticism from fans and pundits alike, with many labeling it a cash grab rather than a meaningful step in Davis’ career — especially because a rematch with Roach should have happened next, as the fight was incredibly controversial.
But beyond that, there are other legacy-defining fights still on the table for the Baltimore native, particularly against Haney and Stevenson — two of the brightest and biggest names in the sport’s next generation.
Davis, however, made it clear he’s unfazed by the noise. To him, the fight with Paul is less about appeasing critics and more about seizing an opportunity while staying in control of his career. Whether fans buy in or not, “Tank” seems determined to let the spectacle speak for itself once the bell rings.
And make no mistake — spectacle sells. Paul has proven to be one of the sport’s biggest box-office attractions, and Davis is one of its last true pay-per-view stars. Together, they’re set to deliver one of the year’s biggest financial events, which goes down inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., on Fri., Nov. 14, 2025.
For much more on Paul vs. Davis this Nov. on Netflix click here.
