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Gervonta Davis’ Real Reason for Announcing Retirement Resurfaces Ahead of Jake Paul Clash

“Boxing definitely did a turn,” Gervonta Davis wrote on X in the middle of a rant recently. “It went from this side to that side, and this s— has no loyalty. So why would I care? I move accordingly. Boxing is dead,” he added before deactivating his account. When a user responded, asking, “Please retire then,” Davis promptly responded, adding, “I am, in eight weeks.”

This comes over a month before his exhibition boxing match against YouTube star Jake Paul. The pair is scheduled to lock horns on November 14th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. However, the question everyone has been trying to figure out the answer to has been, why? Well, Davis had already provided one last year.

Gervonta Davis wants to live without being seen

Gervonta Davis

READ: Canelo Alvarez set for surgery after Terence Crawford loss as return date is revealed

“After next year, I’m out of it,” ‘Tank’ Davis said in the clip featuring a montage of various interviews from December 2024. “Yeah, out of this sport.” When asked why he had taken such a drastic decision despite having several more years left in his boxing career, he seemed repulsed by the idea of fighting. “S***’s trash,” he said. “This s*** is trash, garbage. Fed up. I’m fed up with the whole s***. That’s why I don’t want boxing.”

What does ‘Tank’ want to do instead? “I want to do therapy, right? It would lose the fire that I have inside of me. I want everything out of me, man,” Gervonta Davis said. “So I don’t never think about fighting again. I don’t think about even getting angry cause I have two girls, two daughters. I want to be living without being seen.” Last year, he also claimed that he would pull the plug on his career after three more fights at the end of 2025.

But it appears that the plan has changed. Now, the Jake Paul exhibition will be the last time fans get to witness Gervonta Davis perform his sweet science. Despite Davis’ clear disdain for boxing, though, there are people who hope the 30-year-old sticks around.

O’Shaquie Foster on ‘Tank’ Davis’ retirement

O’Shaquie Foster has a tough fight ahead of him as he prepares to square off against Stephen Fulton in the October 25 co-main event at the MGM Grand. However, he appears to be looking past the Fulton fight, and his prime target is Gervonta Davis. “Tank,” Foster told YSM Sports Media when asked about his future plans.

“We got a little history there, and we right here at 130, 135.” Davis, however, clearly doesn’t appear to be in the mood to continue fighting after his exhibition with Jake Paul. Still, Foster is hoping Davis doesn’t follow through on his threats of retirement from the sport. “I been calling for him,” Foster said. “I think it’ll be a great match.”

That said, if you’ve been paying attention, Gervonta Davis’ retirement always felt inevitable — he’s hinted at it often enough. Fans only hoped he’d close this chapter by granting Lamont Roach Jr. the shot he earned. But that, it seems, won’t be happening.

The root cause of the spectacular collapse of the alliance between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gervonta “Tank” Davis is a vicious power struggle that forced their former advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, to take sides, leading to a personal and professional schism that destroyed a 40-year relationship.

Ellerbe, the long-time CEO of Mayweather Promotions, has finally revealed the full emotional toll of the feud, detailing how the “tug of war” over Davis compelled Mayweather to issue a non-negotiable ultimatum: “Tank or Me.”

Floyd’s Ultimatum: The 40-Year Loyalty Breakdown
The actual cause of the split was not just business, but a deeply personal clash of loyalties that centered on Ellerbe’s role as a trusted mentor to both men. When Davis’s star began to eclipse the need for his promoter, the internal pressure became unbearable.

Leonard Ellerbe at Davis vs Martin

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Ellerbe, who has advised Mayweather since the late 1990s, recounted the heartbreaking ultimatum that ended their professional and personal relationship. The advisor confirmed that Mayweather made him choose between his biggest star and his most significant project.

“This boxing s**t is deep and real,” Ellerbe stated. “Two people I know and have been knowing for 40 years that f**k with him got mad because Tank is my guy and will be forever. They said to pick a side. I said f**k you, we haven’t spoken since.”

This explosive quote confirms that Ellerbe chose his ongoing advisory role with the undisputed star, Gervonta Davis, over maintaining his four-decade alliance with the boxing legend. Ellerbe’s decision led directly to his departure as CEO of Mayweather Promotions, underscoring the severity of Mayweather’s command: If you’re with Tank, you’re against me.

The Rise and Rupture: Mayweather-Davis Relationship Timeline
The relationship between Mayweather and Davis began in 2015 when the Baltimore prodigy signed a promotional deal with Mayweather Promotions. “Tank” often credited Mayweather as a mentor who taught him not just the ropes of the ring, but the business of the world.

2017 Breakthrough: Davis exploded onto the world scene, winning the IBF super-featherweight title. Mayweather enthusiastically branded Davis as the future of boxing.

Growing Tensions (2019-2022): Despite success, tensions began to surface. Davis hinted at frustration over inactivity and feeling undervalued by the promotion. Mayweather, known for meticulous control, reportedly felt Ellerbe was granting Davis too much autonomy. Rumors of issues between Davis and members of the Mayweather family further exacerbated the growing rift.

The Final Move (2022): Following his victory over Rolando Romero in May 2022, Davis formally announced his departure from Mayweather Promotions, declaring the end of his contract. This move led to Davis taking control of his own promotional destiny, elevating Ellerbe’s advisory role and creating the direct conflict of interest that ultimately fractured the Mayweather-Ellerbe partnership.

The New Power Base: Ellerbe and Tank Go Independent
Ellerbe’s dramatic exit and his blunt confirmation of the ultimatum shed light on the intense power dynamics within the sport. While Mayweather quickly replaced Ellerbe as CEO, the personal loss is immense, particularly for Ellerbe.

The advisor’s decision confirms that his loyalty now rests firmly with “Tank,” signaling a new chapter in the boxing business, where Gervonta Davis is officially operating as his own power base, backed by the experience and conviction of the man who once steered the Mayweather Promotions ship.

With Davis going it alone with his exhibition fight against Jake Paul and subsequent retirement from boxing, Ellerbe faces an uncertain future.

Two-time undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez will be sidelined for at least two months after undergoing elbow surgery.

The Mexican superstar lost his four belts at super-middleweight earlier this month in a super-fight defeat by Terence Crawford, the new undisputed champion at 168lb.

First reported by The Ring, the 35-year-old is expected to return to full training in 12 to 15 weeks’ time, with his next fight likely to take place in the second or third quarter of 2026.

Canelo Alvarez

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez got hit so hard during a fight that he felt he had no

That would potentially scupper boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh’s plans.

Alvarez is halfway through a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, having previously reunified the super-middleweight division with a victory over William Scull in May before losing to Crawford in September.

Alalshikh had hoped Canelo would return to the ring in February of next year, but it seems unlikely that the four-division champion will be fully fit in time.

Instead, The Ring reports that Alalshikh is looking for new headliners for his planned card in Saudi Arabia, with light heavyweight David Benavidez and welterweight Devin Haney eyed up for co-main bouts.

Fighting in February would have marked a departure from Canelo’s usual schedule, with the fighter often staging bouts around Cinco de Mayo weekend in May, and Mexican Independence Day in September.

Canelo has followed that pattern of two fights every 12 months for the past four years. It is the third time that Alvarez has opted for surgery during the course of his 20-year professional career. He previously took time out of the ring to have surgery on his right knee in 2018, with another break for an operation on his left wrist in 2022.

Defeat by Crawford was just the third of Canelo’s 68-fight long career. His record now stands at 63 wins, three losses, and three draws, with 39 of his victories coming by way of stoppage.

In the aftermath of his recent loss, Alvarez insisted that he has no plans to retire any time soon. Since losing his champion status, Canelo has been installed as the number one super middleweight contender by the WBC, WBA, and WBO. The IBF are yet to update their rankings for September.

Details on the reason for the recent traffic stop for boxing champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford have been released.

Crawford, who recently defeated Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight world champion, was pulled over in his native Omaha, Nebraska over the weekend.

While initial details on his arrest were not made public, TMZ revealed that he was pulled over for traveling at a high rate of speed. Terence Crawford

READ: ‘He deserves it’ – Terence Crawford told the one fight he needs to t

Documents obtained by the outlet say he sped past a cop in his blue Lucid four-door sedan just before 1:30am on Sunday. The rate of speed was not listed on his citation, but his offense has been noted as ‘reckless driving’.

After he was pulled over, Crawford and the passengers in his vehicle were ordered to get out of the car after a firearm was allegedly seen on the floorboard on the driver’s side.

Police drew their weapons and opened Crawford’s door. The boxer came out of the vehicle with his hands raised and he was later placed in handcuffs.

Video of police drawing their weapons on Crawford went viral, sparking an investigation

Crawford was then released with a citation and was not arrested by police.

Video of the interaction – including the police drawing their weapons and cuffing Crawford – went viral after the incident.

After the video spread, Omaha mayor John Ewing and police chief Todd Schmaderer announced they were going to conduct an internal affairs investigation into the matter.

‘We will gather all the facts and be transparent with the public about our findings,’ Ewing said in a statement.

‘Understand that my heart dropped in learning of this end to an otherwise wonderful day and evening celebrating our city’s world boxing champion.’

‘We held a great parade and great event at Heartland of America park. The evening birthday party at Steelhouse, which I and members of my team attended, was a showing of joy and pride.

‘Omaha needs to remember this important day as a good one while we seek answers to how it ended.’

‘Meanwhile, we must ensure that every resident, no matter who they are, feels safe and respected in Omaha.’

Crawford, who is set to appear in court on December 2, has not publicly addressed the situation.

‘He deserves it’ – Terence Crawford told the one fight he needs to take before boxing retirement

Roy Jones Jr has urged Terence Crawford to give unbeaten MMA star Ilia Topuria a chance inside the squared circle.

Crawford’s last outing saw him claim the undisputed super middleweight crown from Canelo Alvarez in the ‘fight of the century’.

Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

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As ‘Bud’ became the first male three-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era, he also extended his unbeaten record to 42-0.

Attention immediately turned to what Crawford would do next, as the 37-year-old was anticipated to be retiring after his super-fight with Canelo.

Although, he has since hinted at the possibility of dropping down to into the 160lbs division.

While Crawford’s next move is unknown, UFC lightweight champion Topuria is chasing a sensational a crossover bout with Crawford.

In an interview with Titan Play, legendary boxer Jones Jr has revealed that he thinks Crawford should give the 28-year-old a chance if he opts to remain active.

The four-weight world champion said: “I think he will retire.

“If he retires next, it’d be the best thing.

“Had I retired after I beat Antonio Tarver the first time, we wouldn’t be having conversations about the greatest of all time. And we still shouldn’t, because facts are facts.

“But if Crawford does anything more, that’s what he should do [fight Ilia Topuria].

“He deserves the reward at this time.

“Look how long he waited before he got the attention he has now. He deserves one more of those. If anything, that’s what he should do.”

Is Terence Crawford likely to fight Ilia Topuria?

At the start of the month, Topuria made the bold statement that he would put Crawford ‘to sleep in the first contact’ if they were to meet in the boxing ring.

The American responded to the knockout claim from the UFC champ with some choice words, saying he must be ‘drunk’ to believe he could beat him.

Since then, the pair have been embroiled in a verbal back-and-forth.

Although should a formal offer to fight materialise, it seems that a bout between the two champs is unlikely to get over the line.

Crawford appeared to reiterate that he has no intention of facing off with him, and simultaneously left himself open to other offers.

Gervonta Davis Declares Boxing Dead, Dumps Fans for YouTuber Paydays

Once hailed as one of boxing’s brightest stars, Gervonta “Tank” Davis has made a shocking declaration: boxing is dead. In a candid statement, Davis told fans, using the exact phrasing that sent shockwaves through the community:

“Boxing definitely did a turn, it went from this side to that side, and this s*** has no loyalty, so why would I care? I move accordingly, boxing is dead.”

The words are blunt, but the action speaks louder. After years of climbing the ranks, thrilling fight fans, and cementing his reputation as a feared and respected champion, Davis is now pivoting away from the sport that made him. His next bout will be an exhibition against the “YouTuber” Jake Paul on Netflix, a move that signals a complete shift in priorities from legacy to entertainment.

Jake Paul Gervonta Davis handshake

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From Champion to Casual Spectacle
Davis’ pivot is more than a single fight; it is a statement about his relationship with professional boxing. The sport that once tested him against elite competition, demanded discipline, and rewarded hard-earned victories is now, in his eyes, expendable. By choosing exhibitions over traditional bouts, he is trading the loyalty of hardcore fans for a broader audience and quicker paydays.

Hardcore supporters who followed his career from the early belts to the top of the pound-for-pound lists are being left behind. Tank’s shift to a casual and YouTube audience risks alienating the very fan base that cheered every punch, celebrated every championship, and helped elevate him to stardom.

The Fallout Among Fans
If Davis ever attempts a return to serious professional boxing, he will face a skeptical and angry community. The sport’s core supporters do not forget. They remember the fighter who had the skill, the power, and the opportunity to define a generation — and now they see him trading that promise for entertainment money.

Boxing thrives on heart, ambition, and respect for the sport. By openly stating that boxing is dead, Davis has signaled that those values no longer guide his career. The man who once sought the most formidable opponents is now chasing exposure, clicks, and Netflix hype. The very essence of professional competition is secondary to personal gain.

A Legacy at Risk
At just 30 years old, Davis is still in his prime. Yet this pivot raises complex questions about his legacy. Talent alone will not protect him from the scrutiny of fans and the sport’s insiders. Once a symbol of modern boxing excellence, Davis now risks being remembered more for his willingness to abandon the sport than for his titles or victories.

The sport has lost a champion who could have continued to elevate boxing, but the business of boxing may have lost him entirely. By chasing casual audiences over competitive legitimacy, Davis has drawn a line between himself and the sport’s core. For some, this is the moment the star truly fell from the heights he once occupied.

Boxing may survive, but for Gervonta Davis, his reputation, credibility, and connection with the fans who built him have all been put on pause — and the world is watching to see if, or when, he will return to the sport that made him a star.

Canelo Alvarez got hit so hard during a fight that he felt he had no choice but to go for the KO

Canelo Alvarez went for the stoppage after realizing he was struggling with his opponent’s power.

In his most recent bout, the Mexican lost his undisputed super middleweight world titles to Terence Crawford.

Despite his best efforts, there was nothing the superstar could do to handle ‘Bud’. Following the bout, Chris Algieri slammed Canelo’s performance.

However, while he was never able to make a dent in Crawford, there have been plenty of fighters who’ve found themselves in a state of disarray after tasting the legend’s power.

Canelo Alvarez says he had to knock out James Kirkland

On May 9, 2015, Canelo Alvarez ruthlessly stopped James Kirkland with a savage right hand in the third round at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA.

However, the only reason he was so aggressively looking for the finish was because of how much his opponent was hurting him.

In an interview with Millionz of Dollaz Worth of Game, from 2024, when asked about the heaviest hitters he’s faced, Canelo said: “Everybody will say Gennadiy Golovkin [was the hardest puncher,] but I never felt that bad [power] like [James] Kirkland.

“He hit me on the arms, and it felt like rocks. I said ‘I need to finish this guy right now because he is going to beat me around the ring for the whole fight’.”

Last time out, Canelo Alvarez dared to be great as he often has done throughout his career, but fell short of his lofty expectations.

The Mexican icon has nothing left to prove in the ring, boasting one of the better careers of his generation. With his 36th birthday on the horizon, Alvarez is approaching the tail end of his career, though his name is still being linked with big spectacle matchups.

Despite failing to get his hand raised, Canelo Alvarez made history alongside Terence Crawford when they met on September 13. The pair combined for record-breaking viewership, with 41 million viewers tuning in worldwide to witness such a historic event.

Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

JUST IN: How Canelo Alvarez re-enters WBO super middleweight rankings at No. 1 

Alongside their viewership numbers, Canelo vs. Crawford had a live attendance of over 70,000 people at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Constantly striving for greatness, Alvarez could blow that 70,000 live spectators out of the water should his rumored next outing go ahead.

According to reports, Canelo Alvarez is in line to welcome a second-generation boxer and former world champion to the ring.

Should the result go in his favor for a second consecutive time when he collides with Conor Benn in November, Chris Eubank Jr. could find himself standing between the ropes with a true legend of boxing.

While Eubank Jr. has a tough bout ahead of him, his promoter has confirmed that he will attempt to lure Canelo Alvarez to the United Kingdom to face off with his athlete.

Wembley Stadium in London, England, would be an ideal venue for the two to lock horns. The fight has been slated for 2026, though all plans must fall in place for this to happen.

Though he has never competed in the UK, Alvarez has an established history with fighters hailing from the country, and will be hoping that form continues against Eubank Jr.

In the eyes of the sanctioning bodies, even though Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is no longer the best super middleweight in the world, he is still ranked highly at 168lbs.

Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), lost the undisputed championship to Terence Crawford on September 13, dropping a clear unanimous decision. In the days afterward, the WBC was the first organization with updated rankings showing Canelo slotted No. 1 at super middleweight, behind Crawford and interim titleholder Christian Mbilli.

Now the WBO has followed suit in its new ratings, which were released on September 25 and reflect results as of September 15. Crawford had previously been ranked No. 1 by the WBO as of July. His victory over Canelo left that first spot vacant, and that’s where Canelo now sits.

JUST IN: Claressa Shields Opens Up on Serena Williams Remark That Almost Turned Canelo vs. Crawford Ugly

Canelo is followed by Hamzah Sheeraz at No. 2, then Diego Pacheco, Jacob Bank, Alem Begic, Simon Zhachenhuber, Paulinus Ndjolonimu, Kevin Lele Sadjo, Jaime Munguia, Callum Simpson, Bektemir Melikuziev, Edgar Berlanga, Bruno Surace, Ali Akhmedov and Lester Martinez.

As for the WBA, it typically releases its ratings updates on the first day of each month and currently has Melikuziev at No. 1 (and Jose Armando Resendiz as its interim titleholder). That could change by next week.

The IBF, which typically puts out its rankings in the first week of each month, had its No. 1 spot vacant in its early September update – but the October update should have Osleys Iglesias in that position, as he stopped Vladimir Shishkin in an elimination bout earlier this month.

I feel like I put too much time on hold on having a kid and being married and stuff for boxing. We already have it planned out… I don’t want to wait till I’m 43.” 

Two months ago, the GWOAT admitted she’s put off marriage and kids for too long while chasing championships. With both her and rapper Papoose experiencing failed relationships in the past, their bond today shines through, from him helping in her training sessions to constantly supporting her outside the ring. That respect and protectiveness showed again last week when Shields found herself in an uncomfortable spot.

Attending Terence Crawford’s historic showdown with Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium, Claressa Shields was there to support ‘Bud’ as he became the first man in the four-belt era to capture undisputed status in three weight classes. But what was supposed to be a night of celebration turned uneasy when Claressa Shields was reportedly followed and wrongly approached by a fan. The situation prompted Papoose to step in, making sure his partner was safe and reminding everyone just how strong their bond really is.

Serena was mean, I'm not a fan of her as a person'- World boxing champ hits  out at Williams meeting — RT Sport News

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Was Claressa Shields secretly caught on camera?

Yesterday, Claressa Shields shared a video on her YouTube channel, opening up about the strange encounter she had at the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez fight. The three-division world champion explained that while she was chatting with J Prince, Abdullah Mason, and others, a man suddenly walked up to her and started calling her Serena Williams. “At first, I was like, huh?” Shields said. “The way he said it, I knew he knew I wasn’t Serena. Like, you know damn well my name is not Serena. And when have you ever seen Serena with orange hair?” She said the man repeatedly interrupted, calling her by the wrong name, even as she tried to brush him off and return to her conversation.

According to Shields, Papoose eventually stepped in. “Pap told him to move or just to chill out, and the dude started getting smart with Pap,” she explained. While the 30-year-old didn’t seem angry at first, she said the man’s persistence made things uncomfortable, especially since he kept following her. “It was weird. It was like bro, if you don’t gone somewhere…”

Claressa Shields also suspected the man was recording her with special glasses. “Where you all get off with them glasses, you’ll be having on? Glasses that be recording people. Where you all get off with that? Is that even legal?” she asked, pointing out how unsettling it is that people secretly film others for content. She added, “I think he was just trying to go viral, but if he did, it was going to be in a bad way.”

In the end, the Flint native said she and Papoose made it clear they weren’t tolerating disrespect. “Pap definitely do not play around,” she noted. “I know Pap got the hand. So you all can just put two and two together about what happened, but he don’t take no disrespect. I don’t take no disrespect. But I block people like that.”

Shields chalked it up to the man chasing attention, saying she’s seen similar videos online. But this time, she made it clear, she wasn’t having it. The way she described Papoose stepping in right away highlighted just how protective he is of Claressa Shields, and she made sure to give him credit for that as well.

Papoose proves he’s the man of class Claressa Shields deserves

After her dominant win over Lani Daniels, Claressa Shields took to Instagram to thank her partner, rapper Papoose. “And 😊 To my man @papoose ….. Thank you,” she wrote. “You are the epitome of a REAL MAN! How you have added to my life and my happiness, I can’t speak about how great you are enough. I’ve been in the driver seat of my life since ‘FOREVER,’ and now you came and took the wheel and let me ride shotgun 🤩🥹 Thank you for being who you are…” Shields continued to express her gratitude for the role Papoose has played in her life.

She further praised him, writing, “Despite all the ‘wrong’ names that people add to you, you are truly just a Smart, GREAT MAN, Genuine, Loving, Honest & Kind Person. This weekend would [not have] been possible without you! I say that humbly! You helped me make ‘one more’ of my dreams come true! If it’s Us vs Them, we [are going to] always win.” The 17-0 boxer made it clear just how much his support has meant to her.

Notably, Claressa Shields and Papoose have been in a romantic relationship for some time now, making it public in late 2024. This development came during Papoose’s ongoing separation from his estranged wife, rapper Remy Ma, to whom he is still legally married. That said, it’s unfortunate that Claressa Shields had to endure such an awkward and unsettling situation, but she was grateful that the love of her life was there to step in, take control, and protect her from any potential harm.