(Credits: Netflix)

Well, that was quick. The highly hyped Jake Paul vs. Gervonta “Tank” Davis fight, which was originally set for November 14th, is officially off. Surprised? So are we.

Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) confirmed the cancellation this week, ending what was supposed to be one of Netflix’s biggest live sporting events of the year. And you won’t believe the reason! It’s a new civil lawsuit filed against Davis in Miami-Dade County, with serious allegations that made it impossible for the event to go on.

The fight was supposed to go down at Miami’s Kaseya Centre and be streamed live to Netflix viewers across the world. It was meant to follow last year’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson showdown. This match drew an estimated 108 million live viewers, all while becoming the platform’s most-streamed sports event ever. That fight proved that Netflix could not only handle live events but also dominate them one-sidedly.

So, when they announced a follow-up featuring Davis, fans immediately started planning watch parties and predicting knockouts. And now? Those plans are in the bin.

To be fair, it’s not Netflix’s fault. MVP said they’d “initiated an investigation” the second they learnt about the lawsuit against Davis and decided not to move forward “to handle the matter responsibly.” Translation: they are not risking another PR mess. Davis’s trainer, Calvin Ford, told USA Today the lawsuit was “nonsense”, but the timing and seriousness of the claims were enough to end the match before the first punch could land.

But before anyone declares the Netflix–Jake Paul era over, they need to chill. This isn’t the end. Better to call it an unexpected intermission. MVP’s CEO, Nakisa Bidarian, confirmed that Jake Paul will still headline another fight on Netflix in 2025 and that the new event is already being planned with a different opponent. Basically, same ring, same energy, just a different guy getting punched.

It’s clear Netflix isn’t ready to back away from live sports, especially not when their first major fight broke streaming records. In fact, this is part of their larger push to make “Netflix Live” a thing, and Paul, love him or hate him, has become the perfect face for it. He brings in numbers, drama, and that influencer energy that turns a fight into an event. The man sells rage, and Netflix sells spectacle, which makes it a match made in algorithm heaven.

For fans who already bought tickets, MVP confirmed refunds will be automatic via Ticketmaster within 14–21 days. So, at least there’s that. And if you are wondering when you’ll see Jake Paul back in the ring, the answer is: soon enough. The next fight’s location, date, and opponent are still under wraps, but it’s expected to drop sometime in 2025.

Until then, Netflix’s sports experiment continues. If the Tyson fight was proof of concept, the next one will be the test of longevity. It will raise the question of whether Netflix can really make boxing nights the new binge-watch? With Paul still in the picture, it seems they’re betting yes. And knowing him, he’s already planning a knockout comeback.