The social media celebrity turned boxer Jake Paul is facing yet another public embarrassment, as one prominent fighter after another turns down the chance to face him in the ring.
Paul was originally scheduled to take part in a boxing exhibition match alongside Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on Saturday, 14 November, but the event quickly unravelled amid controversy. A senior official from the boxing regulatory board slammed the show as a “money grab”, while ticket sales were reportedly disappointing. The final blow came when Davis’s ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence, prompting organisers Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) to cancel the event altogether.
Despite the setback, MVP are now seeking a replacement opponent for a show they hope to stage in December, one month after Netflix was set to stream the original bout. However, finding a willing opponent has proven difficult. High-profile fighters are refusing the offer, stating they do not wish to participate in what many view as a series of meaningless exhibition matches.
High-Profile Rejections
One of the first big names to publicly reject Paul was former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who dismissed the idea of even entertaining such a fight.
He told TMZ Sports,
“How can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? It makes no sense.”
Sports Illustrated journalist Chris Mannix added that the humiliation continued when another elite fighter, Terence Crawford, declined to face Paul.
On X (formerly Twitter), Mannix wrote:
“Terence Crawford is not in the mix to face Jake Paul… Crawford is targeting his own event in March.”
| Fighter | Status | Response to Jake Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Gervonta “Tank” Davis | Event cancelled | Withdrew after controversy |
| Francis Ngannou | Former UFC Heavyweight Champion | Rejected offer, called it disrespectful |
| Terence Crawford | Reigning World Champion | Focused on March event |
From Sought-After to Avoided
This represents a stark reversal of fortune for Paul. Not long ago, professional fighters were vying for the opportunity to face him, attracted by the publicity and lucrative paydays his name brought. Now, the same fighters are focused on legitimate boxing contests, leaving Paul struggling to find credible opponents.
In his 13 professional bouts so far, Paul has yet to face an opponent his own size, age, or calibre within the sport. After years of taunting MMA fighters, he moved on to fight journeyman boxers and later stepped into the ring with Mike Perry and Mike Tyson in back-to-back fights. Earlier this year, he claimed victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via points in a ten-round contest — a win that did little to silence critics.
If Paul is serious about regaining his reputation and reconnecting with fans who turned away following the failed Davis exhibition, he must now do something he has never done before — fight a ranked and active contender in either the light heavyweight or cruiserweight division. Only then will the world see whether the YouTube star-turned-boxer truly belongs in the sport he claims to represent.