Jake Paul, Tank Davis size each other up, wager $2 million on exhibition
Rules, weight, glove size made clear; Alycia Baumgardner and Gary Antuanne Russell title defenses set for the undercard
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Jake Paul and Gervonta “Tank” Davis faced off on Monday night at the fist of two press conferences this week to promote their exhibition bout and Most Valuable Promotions’ Nakisa Bidarian announced the rules that will govern the unusual event matching two of boxing’s biggest stars.
Speaking at the kickoff media event in New York, Bidarian went through the particulars for the exhibition that is scheduled for Nov. 14 (Netflix) at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, which was announced as the venue last week after issues with the Georgia commission caused the bout to be moved from the original venue, State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
While the result of the bout will not count on either man’s record “there will be a victor because the fighters have agreed and the commission has approved,” Bidarian said.
Bidarian said a decision will be rendered by three judges even though the result won’t count.
“Sitting ringside will be three commission-approved world class professional judges that will score every round to ensure there’s a decisive outcome for the fight if it goes the distance and both men are enrolled in the highest level of testing with USADA,” Bidarian said.
The maximum weight is 195 pounds and the bout will be contested over 10 three-minute rounds. Further, they will wear 12-ounce gloves rather than the standard 10-ounce gloves used for bouts at welterweight and above and eight-ounce gloves below welterweight.
Many view the event as preposterous because at their normal fighting weight they are separated by 65 pounds with the 6-foot-1 Paul a 200-pound cruiserweight and lightweight titlist Davis holding the WBA’s 135-pound belt.