Gervonta “Tank” Davis risks becoming a meme if he fails to take Jake Paul seriously.
Yeah, I said it. And I really wish I didn’t have to.
Davis’ behavior at Monday’s launch press conference changes the complexion of what this event is — and how it could become the latest warning that in today’s viral era, it takes only one clip to reduce a champion to a gif.
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Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn described Paul as an “average” boxer in 2022. Even in 2025 after 13 fights, Paul has yet to face what many in boxing would deem a legitimate challenge. He even nodded to this at Monday’s promotional kickoff: “Belts collect dust,” Paul said. “And what I’ve done in the sport is unprecedented.”
Fight fans in 2025 don’t share rĂ©sumĂ©s. They share viral moments, and Paul has the size, awkwardness and shameless self-belief to turn “Tank” into one if the latter sleepwalks into Nov. 14.
The contest won’t formally count on BoxRec because of the unique setup — 10 three-minute rounds, 12-ounce gloves and a 195-pound weight cap — that plays into its exhibition status. But the millions tuning in on Netflix will be the judges, and their verdict could sting far worse than any sanctioning body’s.
Because Davis has far more to lose in this event than Paul.
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Obviously.
The influencer-turned-boxer is often ridiculed, but his June win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. showed progress since Paul’s lone loss to Tommy Fury in early 2023. He’s also adept at creating viral moments. It’s his forte, after all, having parlayed his popularity from Vine and YouTube into a boxing career that continues to infuriate traditionalists. Paul dropped Nate Diaz, took apart journeymen boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland in back-to-back bouts, and stormed through Mike Perry. It’s these moments that led to his eight-round bout with Mike Tyson this past November, which a reported 108 million audience watched worldwide, per Netflix.
“Tank” is, of course, levels above Paul’s past opponents. He’s one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound punchers, a ruthless finisher who flatlined Leo Santa Cruz, took Rolly Romero’s soul, and folded Ryan Garcia with a nasty body shot. That “Tank” should plow through Paul, 60-pound weight gap or not.
His intimidating presence and reliable knockouts drove the monster pay-per-view revenue he was able to consistently provide broadcasters like Showtime Sports and Prime Video — but all of it could be under threat because that “Tank” was nowhere to be seen Monday in New York City.
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If anything, this was the new, but not improved Gervonta. He’s the one who has flirted with the idea of retirement, and who said he wants to be softer outside the ropes but fears he’d lose his fire in the ring as a result. This is the Davis who took a knee in the Lamont Roach fight and was fortunate to have left the ring with a draw, rather than his first professional loss.
On Monday, this new Davis looked disinterested on the stage, had to be reminded of the fight date and didn’t even seem to know the organizer was Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
“When are we fighting?” he said, in the middle of a half-hearted response to the host Brian Custer.
“He’s stupid as f***,” Paul said in response.
This should be a red flag for any “Tank” fan, because even recent boxing history has shown us the danger of what happens when you overlook an opponent who you think is beneath you.
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Tyson Fury treated former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou like a sideshow, skipped the grind and ended up flat on his back two years ago in Riyadh. Ngannou lost on paper but won the moment because the lone image that endures is Fury down on the canvas.
Anthony Joshua, by contrast, took Ngannou seriously, trained like he was fighting Wladimir Klitschko again, and demolished Ngannou in two rounds to add to his highlight reel in 2024.
Go further back in boxing history and you see Lennox Lewis busy filming “Ocean’s 11” before Hasim Rahman humbled him with an early knockout in 2001. Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas was written off as a mismatch in 1990, until it wasn’t.
This sport is littered with no-hopers who rip up the script.
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And that’s the fate that could be in store for “Tank” if Monday’s sleepy performance becomes a theme throughout the promotion, and into the fight Nov. 14.
If he respects Paul, Davis can make it an easy night’s work just like Joshua vs. Ngannou. But dismissing Paul, like Fury did with the former UFC champ, could cause ruin to his name.
In 2025, reputations aren’t just decided by world championship belts but by clips shared millions of times. It takes only one awkward exchange, one clipped shot or one viral moment for the internet to crown a new meme at Davis’ expense. Then, suddenly, superfights against the likes of Shakur Stevenson, or even Naoya Inoue, lose their blockbuster appeal.
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Paul arguably knows this better than anyone. One knockdown, one shaky round, or one “WTF” gif could undo years of aura — something “Tank” has built up plenty of, up until now.
That’s why Paul is dangerous even in an exhibition. Boxing has shifted into a social era where reputations hinge on shareability. In this context, Paul is one of the worst opponents to overlook.
There are few (if any) scenarios where Paul beats Davis fairly. But Davis can easily beat himself by treating Paul like a sideshow, rather than a fellow pro.
On Nov. 14, the danger for Davis is becoming a clip. One stumble from him — or worse, a knockdown — could see “Tank” fall from a pound-for-pound talent to Paul’s latest punch line.
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