Famed trainer-turned-analyst Teddy Atlas has shared his thoughts on the upcoming event starring Gervonta Davis and Jake Paul.
It was confirmed last week that reigning WBA world lightweight champion ‘Tank’ Davis will lock horns with Paul in a scheduled ten round exhibition contest on Friday November 14 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia – though Paul’s promotional company call it a hybrid fight.
Paul had been in talks to face two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next, but instead opted to reignite this rivalry with Davis.
The champion’s warranted rematch with countryman Lamont Roach Jr has therefore failed to come to fruition, too, in favour of this mega money affair. Many feel that it will be pure spectacle, but Atlas knows why it will sell.
Speaking on his own Youtube channel THE FIGHT, he pondered exactly what could happen if ‘Tank’ lands cleanly on the former Youtuber.
“But you do have one guy who, yeah, he’s smaller but he’s a top fighter, he can punch. And he’s fighting a guy who’s not a top pro fighter, who’s bigger.
“What if he hits him on the chin? What if he hits him on the chin? That’s what’ll wind up selling it – the what if. What if Tank makes him do a cha-cha dance? He hits him on the chin and, Jake Paul, we’re gonna find out if he can dance, you know? Do the cha-cha. That’s what’s gonna sell it, and you can’t argue that ‘what if’.”
Paul has received criticism for his decision to face ‘Tank’ next, especially considering the unbeaten world lightweight champion stands at eight inches shorter than him, and weighed in at over 90 pounds lighter than him ahead of his March showdown with Lamont Roach.
However, Davis has reportedly put down heavyweights in sparring and may just try to prove that on the big stage come fight night. As Atlas says, that’s what will sell it. His world champion rival Shakur Stevenson – who boxing fans would rather see him face – believes ‘Tank’ wins comfortably but not by stoppage.
