Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Jake Paul are getting ready to face off in an exhibition match on November 14 in Atlanta. The fight has kicked up a storm of debate about fairness and money in boxing.
Rumors flew around social media about the purse for this fight. GRM Daily claimed Davis could pocket between $150 million and $200 million. But not everyone bought it. Mike Tyson's son, Amir J. Tyson, laughed off the idea and called fans gullible for believing such a high number.
The money talk isn't the only thing causing a stir. Former world champion Amir Khan has some strong words about the match-up. He told reporters:
"It's a really bad mismatch, and whoever the promoter who has agreed for Gervonta to fight, and the promoter for Jake Paul to fight this little man, it's wrong man. It's wrong, it's like torture. Going in there and hurting someone is just not fair on Davis. Maybe Davis just wants to cash up and walk away from the sport. I think they're making boxing a joke, really."
Khan's concerns stem from the big size difference between the two fighters. Davis, the 29-year-old WBA lightweight champion, will step into the ring against Paul, a much larger opponent.
Davis isn't hurting for cash, though. His fight with Ryan Garcia reportedly earned him over $40 million. He's also had other big paydays against Frank Martin and Lamont Roach Jr.
Paul, on the other hand, has turned his social media fame into a boxing career. His last fight against Mike Tyson on Netflix earned him around $40 million. Paul's massive following and global reach through platforms like Netflix have turned these novelty fights into huge events.
For Davis, this fight offers a unique challenge against a bigger opponent and a chance to tap into Paul's fanbase. But for boxing as a whole, it's stirring up questions about what matters more: putting on a good show or maintaining the sport's integrity.
The November 14 bout proves that in modern boxing, business and sport are more tangled up than ever. That's what's got everyone talking.
