For some silly reason, YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul is scheduled to face WBA Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis this November in an exhibition bout. On paper, the fight makes absolutely no sense: Paul is 6’1” and last fought at 200 pounds, while Davis stands 5’5 ½” and competes at 135 pounds. That’s a seven-weight-class gap, the kind of mismatch
rarely seen outside of professional wrestling.And according to one of Davis’ former opponents, this might all be smoke and mirrors.
“I strongly
doubt this happens, no way Gervonta accepted 195 pounds,” Ryan Garcia wrote on social media. “Gervonta is already small naturally and you really think he will decide to balloon up to 195 pounds? You got to be delusional to think this is going to happen. Btw, if the fight does happen I’d bet on the heavyweight.”
Garcia didn’t just question the matchup’s legitimacy, he took aim at the sport itself.
“Boxing is officially the WWE,” Garcia continued. “This just proves that the new blueprint is get popular, be a decent fighter, pick fights that give you an advantage, and continue to rack in money. The integrity of the sport is getting ruined every day. If you are an up-and-coming fighter, I’d just focus strictly on building your name.”
Still, some might chalk up Garcia’s outrage to frustration. The Mexican star has been calling out Paul since early last year, vowing to “end him” if given the chance. Missing out on such a high-profile payday could sting.
Whether Garcia is bitter or not feels irrelevant. At the end of the day, a potential Paul vs. Davis fight is absurd on every level. Much like Paul’s bizarre booking opposite Mike Tyson, this one feels less like boxing and more like another “great con of the century.”
For the latest and greatest boxing-related news and notes click here.
