The highly anticipated exhibition boxing bout between social media star Jake Paul and WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, scheduled for November 14, has been canceled. Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), officially pulled the plug following a new civil lawsuit accusing Davis of serious violent behavior, casting the event into chaos just weeks before it was set to stream on Netflix.
The bout, which had already faced controversy over weight disparity and venue changes, was definitively derailed by a civil suit filed in Miami-Dade County late last week. The lawsuit, brought by an ex-girlfriend, accuses Davis of multiple charges, including aggravated battery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred in recent months. A scheduled court hearing for Davis on November 12—just two days before the fight—made proceeding with the event logistically and ethically untenable.
MVP Takes Action Amid Scrutiny
In a statement released Monday, Most Valuable Promotions confirmed the cancellation, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations. “We unequivocally condemn any form of violence and are committed to handling this matter with diligence and respect for all involved,” the statement read.
Here is their latest statement.
“Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We thank Netflix, the Kaseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for their partnership.”
The decision to cancel, rather than postpone, reflects the critical nature of the allegations and the potential fallout for Netflix, which was set to broadcast the event. Davis, 30, has a history of legal troubles, including multiple domestic violence allegations and a brief prison term last year for probation violation, making the latest charges a significant liability for event organizers.
Scramble for a Replacement
The cancellation leaves Paul, 28, and MVP scrambling for a high-profile replacement opponent, a challenge now complicated by the sudden loss of the November 14 date. Reports indicate that Paul’s team is now targeting a return to the ring in December, with dates like December 12 and December 19 being explored.
MVP has aggressively canvassed the combat sports landscape for marketable names. Former super middleweight champion Andre Ward has been approached, while formal offers were reportedly extended to rivals like Ryan Garcia and combat sports veterans Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. However, the search is proving difficult, with Ngannou publicly declining the offer, calling it “disrespectful” and a fight that “makes no sense” for him.
The collapse of the Paul vs. Davis match is expected to cost Davis millions, a potential payday estimated to be between $20 million and $40 million. For Jake Paul, the immediate focus is on salvaging the high-stakes December date and proving that his brand can withstand the turbulence created by his opponents’ legal issues. The boxing world watches as MVP attempts to transform this crisis into an opportunity for a new, equally compelling crossover fight.
Here is what Jake Paul had to say.
Gervonta Davis is an actual walking human piece of garbage. Working with him is an absolute nightmare. The unprofessionalism, the bizarre requests, the showing up hours late to shoots. To the numerous arrests and related accusations and lawsuits. If you support this man you…
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 4, 2025
