Sometimes, press conferences set the tone for what’s coming. But at the recent Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis presser, it wasn’t the hype that made headlines; it was the sheer absurdity of the size difference on display. Paul stood tall at 6’1, looming over the 5’5 Davis, and the images quickly went viral.

Fans laughed, and critics rolled their eyes. And into the chaos stepped an unlikely voice, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, the 2018 World’s Strongest Man and the man who once played ‘The Mountain’ on Game of Thrones!

‘The Mountain’ blasts Jake Paul for “fighting small people” after Gervonta Davis’ face-off

On X, Bjornsson posted what appears to be a doctored image of Paul’s face-off with Davis, making the height gap look even more comical. Alongside it, he wrote, “Jake Paul fighting small people. He should try to fight someone like me… let’s see how that goes!” For a man who stands 6’9 and weighs more than 350 pounds, it was a challenge that flipped the narrative completely.

The jab struck a nerve because it touched on Jake Paul’s biggest criticism. Since turning pro in 2020, he has built a 12-1 record, but many accuse him of avoiding prime, active boxers. From YouTubers to ex-UFC stars and even an old Mike Tyson, Paul has seemingly built a career around spectacle. As such, his upcoming fight with Davis only added fuel to the fire.

After all, ‘Tank’ Davis may be one of boxing’s most dangerous punchers, but he’s also a natural lightweight. At 135 pounds, he’s spent his career dismantling opponents across three divisions—super featherweight, lightweight, and super lightweight. With 30 wins, 28 by knockout, his power is undeniable. But against Jake Paul, he’ll be giving up six inches in height and a full 65 pounds in weight.

‘The Problem Child,’ of course, leaned into the circus. Asked how he was preparing for a smaller opponent, he fired off a jab with, “There’s a lot of punching down. Practicing hitting below my knees, and a lot of speed. We’re sparring some eight-year-olds, I got eight-year-olds in there.”

And that’s where Hafthor Bjornsson’s words carried extra weight. The Icelandic giant even has some boxing experience, having beaten fellow strongman Eddie Hall in 2022. If Jake Paul ever took him up on the offer, the spectacle would be unlike any of his previous bouts, with the size difference heavily favoring the strongman.

But first, Paul must get through Davis, and it’s not just the size difference that is raising eyebrows as the rules for the bout have now been revealed!

Rules for the Paul vs. Davis bout cause a frenzy in the boxing world

The matchup between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis was already a spectacle. But now, with the rules revealed, the bout has taken on an even stranger shape. At the press conference in New York, Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian laid out the details, and they only fueled the debate even further.

The fight will be a 10-round exhibition with three-minute rounds, contested at a maximum weight of 195 pounds. Both fighters will wear 12-ounce gloves on fight night. For Davis, that’s a major adjustment. He’s spent his career competing with 8-ounce gloves as the standard. For Paul, it’s a step up from his usual 10-ounce setup, though far from unfamiliar.

This isn’t the first time glove size has been tinkered with in Paul’s career. Last November, when he shared the ring with Mike Tyson in another exhibition, both men wore 14-ounce gloves. But unlike that bout, which had the aura of a spectacle, this fight is billed as an elite test against one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best. So why is it still officially an exhibition?

That designation means the fight won’t affect either man’s professional record. Still, three judges will sit ringside, and if the fight goes the distance, a winner will be declared. It’s a curious middle ground, serious enough to keep score, but casual enough to protect legacies. For critics, it’s yet another example of Paul building events that blur the line between sport and showmanship.

Still, boxing has a way of flipping scripts. Gervonta Davis carries dynamite in both hands, and if he can close the gap, Paul’s “punching down” jokes could vanish in an instant. And then there’s Hafthor Bjornsson’s open challenge, a reminder that for every smaller opponent Paul towers over, there’s always someone bigger waiting to call his bluff!