Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Gervonta Davis left Olympian-slayer keeled over in the ring in first fight back in the United States in 2017

Originally posted on Bloody Knockout | By Harvey Burton | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 12:45 PM ET

Gervonta Davis was set to rematch his toughest opponent yet, but instead will face a 60+ pound weight difference as he takes on Jake Paul in November.

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson was the first card to headline on Netflix, with the streaming giant later staging Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3, a fight organized by MVP, Paul’s promotion.

It seems Paul’s relationship with Netflix will only get stronger, as his next fight will likely be the biggest yet, with the YouTuber coming up against G ervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in a fight that will put size vs skill.

Davis is 135 pounds compared to Paul’s career heaviest of 200 pounds, but is undoubtedly the far more skilled boxer.

Even his biggest rival, Shakur Stevenson, believes Tank will outbox Paul, just as he did in 2017 in a world title defence against a fighter who went on to achieve the unthinkable.

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Gervonta Davis knocked out Francisco Fonseca years before he dashed the dreams of the Olympic pride of France

In 2017, Davis returned to the United States after his only fight outside of America, which saw him dismantle Liam Walsh in London, England.

Just three months after his UK debut, Tank was in the ring again, this time against 19-0-1 Francisco Fonseca.

Davis, whose fight with Paul was slammed by Carl Froch, was stripped of his world title ahead of the fight after missing weight, but did not let that throw him off.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

He carried the fight picking up round after round, before dismantling the challenger in the eighth, sending him to the canvas, keeling over clutching at his waistline.

Fonseca was counted out, and, though beltless, Tank got another devastating win.

Eight years later, Fonseca boasts a record of 37-4-2, and despite his losses to Tevin Farmer and Ryan Garcia, scored a career-defining win last time out, as he dropped Sofiane Oumiha to win a unanimous decision.

Oumiha is a two-time Olympic silver-medallist, and was 6-0 going into the fight. Oumiha is now 30, and may have turned pro too late after three Olympic campaigns.

Either way, Tank’s win has only aged well, with the man he stopped in eight going on to defeat an Olympian eight years later.

Gervonta Davis ducked rematch with opponent who arguably defeated him

The Paul vs Tank news came as a shock to everyone, primarily because Paul was expected to face Anthony Joshua next, with Eddie Hearn suggesting the fight was even 99% done at one point.

Davis, meanwhile, seemed locked in to rematch Lamont Roach Jr., after Roach became the first man to draw with Davis.

Roach arguably beat Tank, as a knockdown sustained by Tank was not ruled as such for no apparent reason, and if it had been ruled a knockdown, Roach would have won based on the scorecards.

Roach seems unlucky not to get his shot at greatness, but Davis, it seems, is chasing a bigger payday.

This article first appeared on Bloody Knockout and was syndicated with permission.

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