Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) was slated for a lightweight title fight rematch with Lamont Roach this month but that was scrapped after Davis’ arrest for alleged domestic violence on July 11. Charges were later dropped.
Paul, meanwhile, was in talks for a major step-up against Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, but negotiations fell apart over network issues, sources said.
Instead, Davis and Paul, a cruiserweight, will meet in an event that will no doubt do big business but is less fighting than it is entertainment given the weight disparity and exhibition rules.
When Floyd Mayweather faced Jake’s older brother, Logan Paul, in an exhibition in 2021, Mayweather couldn’t weigh more than 160 pounds while Logan was capped at 190. Given an even larger weight gap here, expect similar rules and of course larger gloves than the 8-ounce version Davis is accustomed to or the 10-ounce gloves Paul uses.
Paul, of course, is no stranger to star-studded events. In November, Paul faced then-58-year-old Mike Tyson in an eight-round bout, which was Netflix’s entrance into boxing. Though the rules were modified, it was deemed an official fight rather than an exhibition.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) won a decision and then entered talks to fight Canelo Alvarez. The matchup wasn’t finalized, and Paul instead defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June.
On numerous occasions, Paul has called for a fight with Davis despite Davis reigning as a titleholder at 135 pounds. Paul is a cruiserweight, which has a limit of 200 pounds.
Davis, 30, is one of boxing’s top stars. When he defeated Ryan Garcia in 2023, the PPV event crossed the vaunted 1 million-buy threshold.
Paul, 28, will have a 7½-inch height advantage at 6-foot-1; Davis is 5-foot-5½.
Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He was formerly ESPN’s boxing insider. Follow him on X and Instagram: @MikeCoppinger
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