Jake Paul’s embarrassment grows as more fighters step forward to turn him down
Jake Paul appears to be stumbling through what has become an unintentional public humiliation tour in the boxing world.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer was due to feature in an exhibition bout with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on Saturday, November 14. However, the event quickly spiraled into chaos — from a regulatory official branding it a “money grab” to sluggish ticket sales and last-minute price cuts. The final blow came when Davis’ ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence, prompting Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) to cancel the event indefinitely.
With Davis now out of the picture, MVP is scrambling to find Paul a new opponent for a rescheduled show in December — one that Netflix had originally planned to air a month earlier. But there’s a major issue: high-profile fighters want nothing to do with it.
More Fighters Turn Down Jake Paul
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was among the first to reject Paul’s offer, calling the idea outright disrespectful. “How do you go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? That makes no sense,” he told TMZ Sports. “I was like, ‘No, bro. Don’t disrespect me like that. I’m not interested.’”
Ngannou’s refusal isn’t an isolated one. According to Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix, the list of fighters turning Paul down is growing. “Terence Crawford is not in the mix to face Jake Paul,” Mannix posted on X. “Crawford is targeting his own event in March.” He added that Manny Pacquiao, who recently returned to the Philippines, is focusing on a potential 147-pound title fight with Rolly Romero.
It’s a stark contrast from earlier years when big names were eager to share the ring with Paul. Now, the fighters he’s reaching out to seem far more interested in genuine competition.
The situation perhaps reflects the lingering question over Paul’s boxing credibility. Despite having 13 fights under his belt, he has yet to face someone his own size, age, and experience level in the sport. After years of calling out MMA fighters, he turned to journeymen boxers and veterans like Mike Perry and Mike Tyson, before recently defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on points.
If Paul hopes to regain momentum and rebuild fan interest — especially after the fallout from the canceled Davis fight — he may finally need to do what critics have long demanded: step into the ring against a ranked, active boxer in his own division and prove he truly belongs.
