With Netflix Fight In Jeopardy, Jake Paul Has Plenty Of Options For A Replacement

Some Monday greeting musings aft a amazingly engaged play successful boxing … 

As Sports Illustrated first reported, Paul’s squad has been canvassing boxing nan past fewer days successful hunt of a replacement for Gervonta Davis, who last week was named successful another home unit case, this 1 a civilian suit brought by a Miami-area nightclub hostess who accused Davis of battery, aggravated battery, mendacious imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of affectional distress past week. Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions said successful a connection they are investigating nan allegations. 

Still, I’m told it’s very improbable Paul-Davis, scheduled for Nov. 14, will move forward. Netflix, which hates bad press, is anxious astir nan fallout from this civilian suit, starring MVP to scour nan boxing scenery for marketable replacements. As SI reported, a general connection was made to Ryan Garcia for a December day while undisputed ace middleweight champion Terence Crawford has been approached. I’m besides told that Logan Paul, Jake’s brother, was concisely discussed. 

The astir absorbing sanction successful nan mix: Anthony Joshua, nan erstwhile heavyweight champion. MVP and Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, discussed a conflict betwixt Paul and Joshua this summer, earlier yet tabling nan negotiations until 2026. Hearn told SI connected Saturday that he has had conversations pinch MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian astir Paul-Joshua, and that location is communal liking successful nan fight. 

“We are available,” Hearn told SI. “If you’re asking maine ‘do we return nan fight,’ of people we return nan fight. It would beryllium a bully measurement to extremity this small journey. Does Jake Paul really want to conflict Anthony Joshua? He’s a crazy guy. Maybe he thinks he tin drawback AJ connected nan fly. Hasn’t really been successful training campy … should nan opportunity coming itself it would beryllium a immense fight. Never opportunity never.” 

Hearn noted location are immoderate complications. Joshua has an exclusive woody pinch DAZN, nan subscription-based streaming work (disclaimer: I telephone fights connected DAZN). There’s small inducement for DAZN to let Joshua, its biggest star, to conflict connected different platform. DAZN besides has a woody pinch MVP, meaning it could research a Joshua-Paul conflict connected its ain adjacent year. Could Netflix connection capable money for DAZN to measurement aside? Maybe. But nan timepiece is ticking. 

Other boxing notes

 • Hearn did break a small Joshua news Saturday, telling SI that 1 measurement aliases different Joshua will conflict earlier nan extremity of 2025. Matchroom has respective cards near for nan year, opening Nov. 15 pinch nan anticipated rematch betwixt Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. Hearn has teased an early AJ return but successful nan past fewer days has indicated it won’t travel until adjacent year. Now, it seems Joshua, who has not fought since a knockout nonaccomplishment to Daniel Dubois successful 2024, will conflict successful ’25 aft all.

 • How overmuch will Davis suffer retired connected if his conflict pinch Paul is scrapped? Around $25 million, sources acquainted pinch nan contracts told SI. 

 • Is Lenier Pero a heavyweight contender? The erstwhile Cuban Olympian dispatched Jordan Thompson connected Saturday, winning a wide determination to enactment undefeated. There’s nary denying Pero’s skills. He’s slick, a bully assemblage puncher and remarkably accurate: Pero landed 50% of his powerfulness punches against Thompson. 

Still, Pero is missing … something. Sitting ringside, location wasn’t that wow factor. Facing Thompson, a erstwhile cruiserweight who had been retired of nan ringing for 2 years, Pero tired successful nan mediate rounds. When he did wounded Thompson, he couldn’t adjacent nan show. There are bully fights for Pero retired there—Jarrell Miller collapsed Pero’s post-fight interview, and Hearn indicated that’s a conflict he would for illustration to put together—and he will request them to beryllium he tin compete astatine nan apical level. 

 • Pat Brown is impressive. The British cruiserweight imaginable blew past Felix Valera successful 2 rounds Saturday, improving to 5–0, pinch each 5 wins coming by knockout. Beating nan 37-year-old Valera (24–9) is hardly an accomplishment. But it’s really Brown did it, mowing nan durable Valera down pinch powerfulness shots successful nan 2nd round, that was astir impressive. Matchroom isn’t rushing Brown, a 2024 British Olympian, but location are precocious hopes for Brown to beryllium successful nan title operation quickly. 

 • What’s happened to Joshua Buatsi? I had precocious hopes for Buatsi coming retired of nan 2016 Olympics. He had a polished, pro style and seemed for illustration nan benignant of combatant who could deed nan accelerated way for a world title. A bronze badge didn’t hurt, either. Promoters agreed, aggressively pursuing him. But 8 years into his pro profession Buatsi has ne'er fought for a world title. On Saturday he squeaked by Zach Parker successful a arguable decision. At 32, Buatsi is moving retired of clip to unrecorded up to his potential. 

 • Ring Magazine reported that Ryan Garcia is closing successful connected a 147-pound title conflict pinch Mario Barrios (Garcia confirmed nan negotiations successful a matter connection to SI). Garcia is looking to bounce backmost aft a lackluster showing against Rolando Romero past May. Barrios conscionable fought Manny Pacquiao to a tie past July. It’s a coagulated fight. What will beryllium absorbing will beryllium nan gymnastics nan WBC performs to rank Garcia astatine welterweight. 

 • Promoters request to commencement paying attraction to Tommy O’Toole. The Boston-based Irish ray heavyweight picked up different triumph connected Saturday, stopping Ismael Ocles successful nan 4th round. O’Toole (15–0), a sturdy, 6' 3" southpaw is improving by nan fight. He’s besides drafting beardown crowds successful nan Boston area. Guided by Matt and Mark Nolan, O’Toole looks fresh to make a awesome move astatine 175-pounds successful 2026.  

 • Vergil Ortiz–Erickson Lubin, slated for Saturday successful Fort Worth, is simply a heck of a fight. There is simply a batch of buzz for an Ortiz–Jaron Ennis fight, which could hap successful early 2026. But Lubin is simply a real fight. Lubin is simply a existent 154-pounder who has won 3 fights successful a statement since dropping a slugfest to Sebastian Fundora. Expect this 1 to beryllium a war.

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