Gervonta “Tank” Davis looked visibly stunned as the rules for his upcoming exhibition with Jake Paul were confirmed at a fiery launch press conference in New York City.
The Baltimore lightweight was caught off guard when Most Valuable Promotions chief Nakisa Bidarian announced the official weight for their November 14 clash at Miami’s Kaseya Center would be set at 195lbs.
“Y’all said it was 190[lbs],” Davis said in response, as Paul just sat and smiled.
Bidarian simply replied: “The fight is 195lbs as you know.”
The exchange highlighted the core issue dominating discussion around the fight: a massive weight disparity. Davis, a reigning WBA lightweight champion, has never competed above super lightweight (140lbs). Paul, by contrast, has weighed as much as 227lbs for a heavyweight exhibition with Mike Tyson.
Despite the shock from Davis, Bidarian confirmed the bout’s conditions.
“There will be a victor because the fighters have agreed and the commission has approved a maximum weight of 195lb for this exhibition,” he said.
“When Tank and Jake enter the squared circle to go to battle, they will be wearing 12oz gloves.
“Sitting ringside will be three commission-approved world-class professional judges that will score every round to ensure there’s a decisive outcome for the fight if it goes the distance.
“And both men are enrolled in the highest level of testing with Usada (US Anti-Doping Agency).”
It was also clarified that the fight will span 10 three-minute rounds, with knockouts allowed. While the result will not appear on either fighter’s professional record, unlike other exhibitions, a definitive winner must be declared if the fight goes the distance.
Source 1 had earlier noted: “The three judges will be commission approved and world championship level, and will score on a 10-point must system over ten rounds of three minutes.”
The event was originally planned for Atlanta, but Paul’s promotional outfit pulled its request for a rules waiver in Georgia after public criticism from Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission chairman Rick Thompson.
“This is the dumbest (expletive) I’ve ever heard,’’ Thompson told USA Today. “It’s a money grabber, and I’m not OK with that.”
He later added: “They probably evaluated a situation, knew that their weight differences were too much,’’
With Atlanta off the table, the card was relocated to Florida under the oversight of the state’s athletic commission.
While Davis processed the weight announcement, Paul was busy hurling verbal jabs. The 28-year-old branded Davis “stupid as f—” early in the press conference and mocked him with comparisons to Floyd Mayweather, saying he “can’t read.”
The insults escalated, with Paul declaring himself Davis’ “karmic retribution” and joking that he would be fighting with an ankle monitor. He even invited “clowns” on stage before referencing his rival’s history of legal issues.
Davis responded by threatening both Paul and his coach J’Leon Love as the verbal battle heated up.
When the pair came together for a face-off, things remained relatively tame—though the size difference was impossible to miss. At 6’2”, Paul towered over the 5’5” Davis, underscoring the controversy that has followed this matchup since its announcement.
Despite the unusual weight arrangement, both fighters are adamant about their chances of securing a finish.
Paul said: “There’s a lot of holes in his defence that a lot of people haven’t exposed before. I haven’t got a knockout in a long time, so I’m itching. I’m just excited to be able to deliver that for the fans and have another most viral knockout ever.”
Davis countered: “Every time I fight, it’s fireworks. I’m much quicker than him. He’s much stronger and much bigger, but we all know that it’s harder for taller fighters to fight a shorter one.
“He’s decent and he’s going to hold up for a couple of round, but once it gets hot in there you know how things play out.”
The fight will take place at Miami’s Kaseya Center on November 14. Both men will wear 12oz gloves, the maximum weight is capped at 195lbs, and three judges will ensure a decision if no knockout occurs.
But Davis’ confusion at the announcement showed just how fraught the build-up may become. What began with a stunned “Y’all said it was 190[lbs],” could well set the tone for a build-up where size, spectacle, and bad blood dominate every headline.
Featured image credit: YouTube/Netflix
