The boxing world got shaken up with two big fight announcements. Gervonta 'Tank' Davis will face Jake Paul on November 14 in Atlanta. On top of that, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson will step into the ring for an exhibition in the spring of 2026.
These announcements have got people talking about what's real and what's just for show in boxing these days. Jeff Mayweather, Floyd's uncle, dropped some hints that make you wonder if these exhibition matches might have endings already planned out.
"Boxing has changed," Jeff said. He thinks fights are becoming more about putting on a good show than real competition. He brought up how people criticized Tyson's fight with Paul, saying it looked scripted. But there's a reason for this shift - fighters can make more money with less risk in these exhibition matches.
When it comes to Davis vs Paul, opinions are split. Boxing fans want to see real boxers go at it, while YouTube followers are all about Paul. Davis has earned his stripes as a legit boxer, but some worry Paul's presence might make the whole thing seem less serious. As Jeff put it, "A lot of boxing fans aren't going to watch that for Tank."
The Mayweather vs Tyson exhibition is a different story. Both fighters will get "a huge check," and as Jeff said, "Nobody is going to mess up their money." What's really got people interested is the bad blood between these two. It goes back to some comments Mayweather made about Muhammad Ali.
Looking at the bigger picture, Jeff thinks "Exhibitions are here to stay." Traditional boxing is losing ground to MMA and these media spectacles. While exhibitions offer entertainment without much risk to the fighters, some worry it's hurting the sport's credibility. As Jeff put it, "It's not about hurting anyone anymore, it's about entertaining."
This whole situation has sparked a debate. Some folks are excited about the entertainment value, while others miss the authenticity of old-school boxing. One thing's for sure - the future of boxing is up in the air.
