Jake Paul’s team are reportedly working hard behind the scenes to secure a replacement opponent following the latest allegations of domestic abuse against Gervonta Davis.
Paul and Davis were set to co-star in an exhibition on November 14 in Miami, Florida, bridging a massive weight gap for a spectacle event that was heavily criticised by many in the boxing world.
Off the back of a fresh lawsuit for Davis, which includes choking an ex-partner, reports suggest that the match-up is now off the table, if not close to behind so, and the 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-fighter is actively pursuing different options.
The first name reported was Ryan Garcia, a former Davis opponent and superstar in his own right who has expressed an interest in the bout in the past. ESPN’s Julian Julius has now revealed that there are four more names in the mix: Anthony Joshua, Terence Crawford, Edgar Berlanga and Floyd Mayweather.
Two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua’s team had previously held talks with Paul, and both sides remained keen on the fight taking place depending on the Davis result. ‘AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, this week did not rule out his charge returning this year after more than 12 months out, however he did say that a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury remains the goal.
Crawford, coming off the back of a career-defining victory over Canelo Alvarez, is unlikely to entertain the prospect. Berlanga, who has lost to Canelo and will soon return after a stoppage loss to Hamzah Sheeraz, wants big fights and may seriously consider the spectacle. Mayweather, who faced Paul’s brother Logan in an exhibition years ago, was recently revealed to be in early talks with Manny Pacquiao for a professional rematch of their 2015 contest.
As of writing, Paul or his team have not publicly commented on the developments.
