Report: 'Tank' Davis was in talks with Jake Paul before Roach draw

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis was in talks with Jake Paul for an exhibition bout this summer before he fought Lamont Roach Jr., sources told Fight Freaks Unite's Dan Rafael.

Davis' team reportedly broke off discussions with Paul after the Roach fight, which headlined a March 1 pay-per-view event in Brooklyn and ended in a controversial majority draw. Davis opted to activate a rematch clause instead.

The Davis-Roach rematch is being planned for June 21 in Las Vegas or June 28 in Atlanta or Miami, sources told Rafael.

An exhibition matchup between Davis and Paul would've been a blockbuster, as they're two of the biggest stars in boxing. Davis, undefeated at 30-0-1, is known for his devastating knockout power. Meanwhile, Paul, a YouTube star turned prizefighter, was involved in arguably the biggest - and most controversial - fight of 2024, defeating former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson by unanimous decision last November.

With Davis focused on Roach, Paul is still seeking his next opponent. "The Problem Child" was briefly linked to a blockbuster matchup against super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez in February, but it fell apart at the last minute after Álvarez signed a multi-fight deal with Riyadh Season instead.

Paul attended Davis-Roach earlier in March at Barclays Center to scope out his potential next opponent, but it wasn't meant to be. Roach, the WBA junior lightweight champion, shined as a massive underdog, outlanding Davis 112-103 in total punches.

Controversy surrounded the fight's result because the referee didn't rule a knockdown when Davis took a knee in the ninth round.

Roach's team appealed the bout's decision to the New York State Athletic Commission. However, the commission didn't overturn the result, saying in a ruling that referee Steve Willis should've declared the knee a knockdown but that it "was not outcome-determinative."