Some Monday morning musings after a surprisingly busy weekend in boxing \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Sports Illustrated first reported<\/a>, Paul\u2019s team has been canvassing boxing the last few days in search of a replacement for Gervonta Davis, who last week was named<\/a> in another domestic violence case, this one a civil suit brought by a Miami-area nightclub hostess who accused Davis of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress last week. Paul\u2019s Most Valuable Promotions said in a statement they are investigating the allegations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, I\u2019m told it\u2019s very unlikely Paul-Davis<\/a>, scheduled for Nov. 14, will move forward. Netflix, which hates bad press, is anxious about the fallout from this civil suit, leading MVP to scour the boxing landscape for marketable replacements. As SI reported, a formal offer was made to Ryan Garcia for a December date while undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford<\/a> has been approached. I\u2019m also told that Logan Paul, Jake\u2019s brother, was briefly discussed.\u00a0<\/p>\n The most interesting name in the mix: Anthony Joshua, the former heavyweight champion. MVP and Joshua\u2019s promoter, Eddie Hearn, discussed a fight between Paul and Joshua this summer, before eventually tabling the negotiations until 2026. Hearn told SI on Saturday that he has had conversations with MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian about Paul-Joshua, and that there is mutual interest in the fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are available,\u201d Hearn told SI. \u201cIf you\u2019re asking me \u2018do we take the fight,\u2019 of course we take the fight. It would be a nice way to end this little journey. Does Jake Paul really want to fight Anthony Joshua? He\u2019s a crazy guy. Maybe he thinks he can catch AJ on the fly. Hasn\u2019t really been in training camp \u2026 should the opportunity present itself it would be a huge fight. Never say never.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Hearn noted there are some complications. Joshua has an exclusive deal with DAZN, the subscription-based streaming service (disclaimer: I call fights on DAZN). There\u2019s little incentive for DAZN to allow Joshua, its biggest star, to fight on another platform. DAZN also has a deal with MVP, meaning it could explore a Joshua-Paul fight on its own next year. Could Netflix offer enough money for DAZN to step aside? Maybe. But the clock is ticking.\u00a0<\/p>\n Free Newsletter. Subscribe to SI:AM. Wake Up With SI:AM. dark<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2022 Hearn did break a little Joshua news Saturday, telling SI that one way or another Joshua will fight before the end of 2025. Matchroom has several cards left for the year, beginning Nov. 15 with the anticipated rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. Hearn has teased an early AJ return but in the last few days has indicated it won\u2019t come until next year. Now, it seems Joshua, who has not fought since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024<\/a>, will fight in \u201925 after all.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2022 How much will Davis lose out on if his fight with Paul is scrapped? Around $25 million, sources familiar with the contracts told SI.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2022 Is Lenier Pero a heavyweight contender? The former Cuban Olympian dispatched Jordan Thompson on Saturday, winning a wide decision to stay undefeated. There\u2019s no denying Pero\u2019s skills. He\u2019s slick, a good body puncher and remarkably accurate: Pero landed 50% of his power punches against Thompson.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, Pero is missing \u2026 something. Sitting ringside, there wasn\u2019t that wow factor. Facing Thompson, a former cruiserweight who had been out of the ring for two years, Pero tired in the middle rounds. When he did hurt Thompson, he couldn\u2019t close the show. There are good fights for Pero out there\u2014Jarrell Miller crashed Pero\u2019s post-fight interview, and Hearn indicated that\u2019s a fight he would like to put together\u2014and he will need them to prove he can compete at the top level.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2022 Pat Brown is impressive. The British cruiserweight prospect blew past Felix Valera in two rounds Saturday, improving to 5\u20130, with all five wins coming by knockout. Beating the 37-year-old Valera (24\u20139) is hardly an accomplishment. But it\u2019s how Brown did it, mowing the durable Valera down with power shots in the second round, that was most impressive. Matchroom isn\u2019t rushing Brown, a 2024 British Olympian, but there are high hopes for Brown to be in the title mix quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2022 What\u2019s happened to Joshua Buatsi? I had high hopes for Buatsi coming out of the 2016 Olympics. He had a polished, pro style and seemed like the kind of fighter who could hit the fast track for a world title. A bronze medal didn\u2019t hurt, either. Promoters agreed, aggressively pursuing him. But eight years into his pro career Buatsi has never fought for a world title. On Saturday he squeaked by Zach Parker in a controversial decision. At 32, Buatsi is running out of time to live up to his potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n