Jake Paul has branded rival Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis a ‘fraud’ and accused him of being ‘everything that’s wrong with boxing’ – claiming he needs to be ‘knocked out’ for ‘the lies he says.’
The outspoken YouTuber-turned-boxer has reignited their feud after accusing Davis of going continuing to backtrack on the $2million bet agreed live on stage during their press tour earlier this month.
Paul was originally due to face Davis in Atlanta, Georgia, but the fight was forced to relocate after the chairman of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, Rick Thompson, publicly raised concerns about the match-up. It will now take place in Miami on November 14, streamed live on Netflix from the Kaseya Center.
Although billed as an exhibition, the bout will be scored by three judges – meaning the result won’t affect either fighter’s professional record, but pride and reputation are clearly on the line.
Tensions between the pair have continued to boil over in recent weeks, with the argument over the multimillion-dollar wager adding extra fire to a rivalry already fuelled by trash talk, shoves, and social media taunts.
When asked for an update on the wager, Paul didn’t hold back. He told Daily Mail Sport: ‘For me, this is personal. Gervonta is unprofessional. He’s everything that’s wrong with boxing. He is a fraud. He says things on stage and then doesn’t agree to it, like the $2 million bet, like moving it to 10-ounce gloves. We’re still at 12-ounce gloves. He’s a joke.
Jake Paul has branded rival Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis a ‘fraud’ and accused him of being ‘everything that’s wrong with boxing’ – claiming he needs to be ‘knocked out’
Paul has reignited their feud after accusing Davis of going continuing to backtrack on the $2million bet agreed live on stage during their press tour earlier this month
‘At the end of the day, a lot of people say things in this sport, and that’s why for so many years, it was dying. I came in, put my money where my mouth is every single time. I saved the sport. I back everything up. I make big moments, I make fights happen, I agree to fight in any condition. So for me, he needs to be knocked out and pay for some of these lies that he says on stage.’
The dispute erupted during the pair’s fiery press tour stop in Miami earlier this month, when Davis and Paul traded insults before agreeing to a staggering $2m side bet on the outcome of their fight.
The deal escalated quickly, first sparked by streamer Adin Ross suggesting a $250,000 wager. Davis doubled it to $500,000 before Paul countered with $1million. Davis then upped the ante again to $2million, sealing the agreement with a handshake in front of cameras and fans.
But moments later, the five-time world champion appeared to backtrack, taking to social media to declare: ‘He was never getting that 2million. I don’t give a f** what happens.’
That sudden reversal infuriated Paul, who has since accused Davis of failing to stand by his word. The pair have also clashed over other conditions for the fight – including the glove size, with Paul claiming Davis is still refusing to switch to 10-ounce gloves as promised.
The build-up to the contest has been chaotic from the start. Davis discovered mid-press conference that the fight would take place at a catchweight of 195lbs, visibly surprised by the announcement.
Tempers have flared repeatedly since, with the rivals shoving each other at multiple face-offs before security was forced to step in. Now Paul is looking to make him pay on the big stage.
Paul (right) pictured taking on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (left) in his last professional bout
He says the chaos only fuels his motivation. He insists that while the feud has become deeply personal, he still respects Davis’s skills and sees this as his toughest test yet.
‘This is the biggest and riskiest fight of my career,’ Paul said earlier this week. ‘I respect Tank a lot. That’s why I wanted it. He’s going to bring the best out of me. But this sport is about backing up your words, and I always do that. He doesn’t.’
Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis will take place in Miami on November 14, streamed live on Netflix from the Kaseya Center.
