Shortly after announcing his premature retirement from the sport, news surfaced of Gervonta Davis welcoming the gimmick of taking on Jake Paul.
‘Tank’ was regarded by many as one of the greatest and most entertaining boxers of his generation, but that’s no longer the case as he is now taking the exhibition route in the ring. Despite being on the wrong end of a sizeable weight advantage, the powerhouse jumped at the opportunity to silence the YouTube star as revealed last month.
While anticipation of the fight is beginning to mount, not everybody expects fireworks. Reigning WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford doesn’t consider the matchup a true competitive affair.
“I have no reaction [to the fight announcement],” Crawford said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with a 135-pounder going up against a 200-pounder.”
“If it’s scripted, then it’s going to be good for them and for the fans to watch… I think it’s not a real fight. It can’t be a real fight because they’re not on the same weight, so it [would] be more of an exhibition.”
“I think they’re going to go in there and spar. I don’t think it’s going to be. ‘You try to go kill me, and I’m trying to kill you.’ It’s like, ‘Let’s go in there and get this money.’ It’s more of a business tactic than anything.”
The fight has divided opinion since its announcement, with many struggling to decide who to side with. Despite his expertise between the ropes, Terence Crawford doesn’t believe it will be enough for Gervonta Davis to overcome the towering size difference against Jake Paul.
“Jake’s too big for ‘Tank’, in reality,” Crawford claimed. “‘Tank’ is very talented, can punch hard, and [he’s] explosive, and the whole nine yards. Jake can punch with the right hand. I’ve seen him close and personal.”
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“The dude is big. He’s not as slow as people think he is. He can punch. That’s why a lot of people know there were times he could’ve laid it on [Mike] Tyson, but he kind of held back.”
As is often the case with blockbuster boxing clashes of late, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis will be streamed globally on Netflix. Live from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, fans can witness the spectacle when it gets underway on Friday, November 14.
Listen to Terence Crawford’s opinion on the fight and more below.
