The headliner of the upcoming boxing card is on pause. The Jake Paul vs Gervonta Davis bout, scheduled for November 15, has been thrown into doubt after yet another scandal involving “Tank.” In late October, the ex-champion found himself at the center of a legal dispute: his former girlfriend accused him of kidnapping and assault, filed a civil suit, and demanded compensation. An investigation is underway, promoters and broadcasters are scrambling for a Plan B, and the event poster may change in the coming days.
From Big Announcement to Investigation
On October 27, according to the complainant, Davis forcibly led her out of the club where she works through a staff exit to the parking lot and assaulted her. On October 30, a lawsuit was filed alleging kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The filing seeks more than $50,000 in damages and a jury trial. The suit also cites earlier episodes of a strained relationship — in September, the plaintiff says he threatened to kill her over jealousy and unanswered messages. At the time of publication Davis had not been arrested, but the review is ongoing. The fighter’s team declined comment, while Jake Paul’s promotional outfit, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), publicly stated it is gathering facts and “condemns any form of violence,” reserving a final decision until internal and external reviews are complete. That alone is enough to put the planned boxing showcase at risk.
A Long Rap Sheet: Why “Tank” Is a Headache for Matchmakers
Davis’s issues span years — from fights and altercations to high-profile incidents on the road. In 2017, accusations followed a scuffle with a childhood friend. In 2018 came an arrest over a bar dispute, in 2019 a confrontation at an ATM that drew police involvement. In February 2020, cameras caught him roughly pulling his then-girlfriend from a basketball game; a battery case followed. In the fall of 2020, he left the scene of a car crash in which four people — including a pregnant woman — were injured; that triggered multiple charges and ultimately house arrest, part of which “Tank” served in jail for violating terms. In December 2022 came another arrest after a conflict with the mother of his daughter. In the summer of 2025 he was detained again in a case involving violence against an ex, who later withdrew her claims. This drag on his sporting calendar is obvious: a rematch with Lamont Roach fell through in August, and now the slated event with Paul is wobbling. For broadcaster and promoter alike, this is no longer an isolated point of risk but a systemic one.
Plan B: Casting for Paul’s Opponent
The format has been billed as an exhibition, and the organizational window is tiny. Insiders say several candidates are in play. Ryan Garcia — Davis’s high-profile opponent in 2023 — was discussed. But there are two hard constraints. First, Garcia is a Golden Boy fighter and a DAZN headliner: appearing on a show airing on Netflix runs into rights and conflicts of interest. Second, reports say the WBC has sanctioned a welterweight title fight for Garcia against Mario Barrios in early 2026, which means separate negotiations between Amazon Prime and DAZN, along with competing interests from PBC and Golden Boy. Tempting as it is, it hardly looks like a straightforward “yes.”
Big Names — Big Barriers
The shortlist also features Anthony Joshua, Terence Crawford, Nate Diaz, and Francis Ngannou. Each brings a unique degree of difficulty. Joshua is a megastar and a box-office dream, but he’s tied to DAZN not only by contract but as a shareholder/ambassador. Any cross-platform project would require corporate-level will. Crawford, after a September win over Saúl Álvarez, has raised the legacy bar to the ceiling and, judging by his roadmap, isn’t chasing media-driven crossovers. His name in the mix is more a bridge to a splashy headline than a realistic short-notice scenario.
“Safe Box Office” and “Viral Hype”: Diaz and Ngannou on the Agenda
The most attainable replacement appears to be Nate Diaz. He already boxed Jake in 2023, has a solid fan base, and rarely competes in traditional boxing, making him a familiar, “controllable” assignment for Paul. A rematch is an easy sell: there’s a storyline, there’s history, and no insurmountable broadcast conflicts. Ngannou is trickier. After his 2023 boxing experiments he still draws cameras, but he isn’t necessarily a “serial” boxing figure for Netflix, and Francis himself reacted sharply to the idea of being slotted in for Davis to face a YouTuber-boxer. Paraphrasing, his reaction was basically: how do you jump from a top boxer to an MMA heavyweight as a last-minute stand-in — “disrespect.” That tone hardly suggests negotiations are possible within the current window.
The Broadcast Schedule as the Main Opponent
Even if MVP and Netflix align quickly on an opponent, the calendar looms. The discussed postponement dates — December 12 or 19 — require a full production reload: marketing, press tour, logistics, medicals, the commission. That’s without the potential cross-platform storm if the candidate is tied to other broadcasters. In practice, the decision must be made “in one pass” and without error — otherwise the show slides into 2026.
Who Fits Paul in Style and Business Logic
Set broadcast politics aside, and in pure match math Diaz is the least risky choice: high-volume boxing, steady pressure, but not elite schooling — with big name value and fan traffic. Joshua brings maximum buzz but minimal deal probability — too many red flags on the legal side. Ngannou is a headline-grabbing alternative, but the heavyweight’s cool stance and unclear value to Netflix strictly as a boxing property are hurdles. Crawford is the sport’s premium brand; however, the point of his career right now is titles and legacy, not exhibition experiments.
What Happens to “Tank”: Stakes Beyond the Ropes
Sport-wise, Davis is losing time, form, and money. Reputation-wise, his credit of trust is shrinking. For matchmakers, he has become a high-risk asset: any card with him now requires a built-in Plan B. Even if this story avoids the criminal track, an eight-year trail — from domestic flare-ups to traffic incidents — is already baked into his personal brand. In the short term, that almost guarantees the November fight with Paul won’t happen and likely pushes major partners away.
The Resolution Is Near: The Card Will Survive, but the Poster Will Change
Expect an official MVP announcement in the coming days: shifting the event to December looks most realistic, along with a new opponent’s name. On paper the favorite is Diaz — quick to agree, marketable, and without heavy media-rights entanglements. Joshua and Crawford remain loud dreams; Ngannou is a hyped but hard-to-pull option. Whatever the outcome, this episode again underlines that modern boxing doesn’t live by sporting rules alone. Legal risk, broadcast rights, and out-of-ring name recognition often decide the fate of main events as surely as any jab. For Paul it’s a chance to save the show and the gate; for Davis it’s a painful reminder that the toughest opponent sometimes waits not between the ropes but on the news agenda.
