Sometimes a fight builds its own drama outside the ring. For Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, the chaos began at the pre-fight press conference. Streamer Adin Ross pushed Davis to go higher. It went from the original $200,000 to $250,000, to even $500,000 before Paul stepped in. Scoffing at Tank’s hesitation, he simply said, “Let’s make it a million.” Hearing, Gervonta Davis grinned and doubled the stakes. A handshake followed, and if there was any doubt, the competitive fire before the punches were even thrown was confirmed. But a twist came along.

Later, Tank hopped on X and posted, “He was never getting that 2 mil… (no matter) what happens.” Just like that, the handshake seemingly meant nothing. Now, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen warned Jake Paul about a possible bait-and-switch on his YouTube channel. ‘The Bad Guy’ began by stating, “You got a triangle. You got the promoter, you got the red corner, you got the blue corner. They all have to understand this code. Now, Jake shakes on it, and I knew what that meant. My father taught me what that meant, but not everybody’s father taught them.

“So, I knew the code that Jake had and I knew why it was so important that, even though this deal was made and a verbal contract was reached, I knew why it was so important that Jake come across and shake. I respected it. Tank came out on Twitter… Now, I am fine with this even in spite of the shake. I really am. If you come out and you let the world know as publicly as you can, same way that you did the shake, you let them know as publicly as you can, ‘Hey, caught up in the moment, I was performing, that was your thing. I didn’t have time to think it through. I need to be very clear with you: We don’t have a deal.’ That’s actually fair game.”

Interestingly, Davis also tried for a side bet with Jake Paul’s business partner and Most Valuable Promotion’s co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian. But the latter simply stepped back. Although there’s another reason why, perhaps, Paul and Davis wanted a bigger side bet. Of course, there’s the hyping it all up aspect.

But the other reason might be the fact that this is an exhibition fight. So, while there would be three referees judging them and a KO could prove who the winner is, it won’t go on their records. The athletes, as a result, could actually bring a bigger payday for themselves. And that’s where Sonnen’s next thought comes in.

“Here’s the deal, I believe that Tank just called the bet off. But he was never getting the $2 million,” Sonnen added. “Tank could come out later and say… Let’s say Tank wins… ‘Pay me my money!’ ‘Yeah, the deal was off, you said it right on social media’. ‘No, no, no. What I meant by that was: You were never going to beat me. You’re never getting the 2 million, you’re never going to beat me. The bet was still good and now you owe me, right?’ Do you see where the problem comes?”

Wat Sonnen said actually does make sense. The problem with Davis’ actions is that we no longer know if the bet even stands or not. He went on to make a bet in front of everyone, but then took it away on social media. So, does Paul go away with the money or not? Or is it that Tank Davis schemed to pocket the glory while skipping the wager? Guess we’ll find out on November 14 as the exhibition fight broadcasts over Netflix. But the bigger question surrounding this bet now is: Is it even legal for boxers to bet on themselves?

Davis vs Paul bet raises eyebrows over its legality

When Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis shook hands on their $2 million side bet, the buzz wasn’t just about the money. Fans wanted to know if this is even allowed. In boxing, wagering on yourself sits in a murky middle ground that few sports dare to touch. The one bright line is clear: fighters can never bet against themselves. That’s match-fixing, plain and simple, and it’s a career-ender. Betting on yourself to win, however, falls into a gray zone. Some athletic commissions allow it, others don’t. The rules vary depending on the jurisdiction.

In 2017, Floyd Mayweather famously claimed he tried to put $400,000 on himself to beat Conor McGregor in under 9.5 rounds. Sportsbooks reportedly refused, citing integrity concerns, though Mayweather later admitted a friend helped him sneak part of the bet through. More recently, Ryan Garcia shocked fans when he revealed he had bet $2 million on himself to beat Devin Haney in April 2024. As the underdog, Garcia’s gamble turned into a windfall of around $10 million. Legal under Nevada rules, the bet was technically above board, but it left many uneasy. After all, no other major sport allows competitors to wager on their own performance.

As such, Chael Sonnen’s warning isn’t just about Paul allegedly getting conned; it’s also about how fragile trust becomes when fighters blur the lines between business, performance, and gambling. Legally, Paul and Davis can make all the side bets they want. But without a contract, it’s little more than theater, and fans are left to wonder if the handshake meant honor or hype!