The latest alleged domestic battery civil suit against Gervonta Davis has escalated, with the WBA lightweight champion now facing a temporary restraining order, according to reports. As a result, this development has intensified the uncertainty surrounding his upcoming Netflix boxing exhibition against Jake Paul, scheduled for November 14. With less than two weeks remaining, the controversy now casts doubt over the fight, leaving its final outcome in question.

Consequently, Gervonta Davis’s legal troubles have put Jake Paul’s fight in jeopardy, sparking widespread speculation in the boxing world. Moreover, renowned journalist Mike Coppinger stated that ‘The Problem Child’ might postpone his return until December, though no one has confirmed it. Amid the uncertainty, names like Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia have surfaced as potential replacements, alongside UFC stars Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. On top of that, a former UFC bantamweight champion has pointed out the least “scary” opponent for Paul.

Sean O’Malley singles out the ideal replacement for Jake Paul vs. Davis

Sean O’Malley recently shared his thoughts on Jake Paul’s future during a discussion on his YouTube channel. He viewed Francis Ngannou as a mismatch for the Ohio native, citing the massive size difference; Paul’s walk-around weight sits at around 210 lbs, while the former UFC heavyweight champion tips the scales at 280-290 lbs.

Reacting to the matchup, O’Malley exclaimed, “Francis versus Jake-Jesus, f–k.” Meanwhile, O’Malley’s brother and co-host Daniel voiced concern for Jake Paul, delivering a grim prediction: “I couldn’t see him take that. I feel like Francis would tear his head off.”

Noting that ‘The Predator’ suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last year, O’Malley emphasized that Ngannou would still be “scary” for Jake Paul, along with other tough opponents like Terence Crawford. At the same time, O’Malley seemed more intrigued by the idea of a “harder,” opponent like Ryan Garcia, even though that bout is already off the table.

He added, “I mean, I think it makes sense…I feel like Ryan would be a harder fight than Gervonta.. The same way Gervonta beat Ryan, so it’s interesting, but I feel like Ryan would be a harder fight for Jake…Yeah, that would be interesting. Very interesting.”

Ryan Garcia could have served as a logical size and skill substitute for Gervonta Davis, given their similar physical proportions. Combined with ‘King’s marketability, such a matchup would have had a significant impact. However, according to Ring Magazine, negotiations for a bout between Garcia and Martin Barrios were nearly finalized for the WBC welterweight title, targeting the first quarter of 2026.

Even so, Ryan Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, dismissed any possibility of a Paul vs. Garcia fight, which now shifts attention toward the possibility of “mismatched” Francis Ngannou vs. Jake Paul.

UFC legend criticizes Ngannou vs. Paul fight idea

“I think I can set up a solid four-fight plan in boxing, and that could work well… that could even become my retirement plan,” said Francis Ngannou, outlining his boxing strategy. Ngannou has already faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the ring. Despite losing both bouts, he earned a reported $30 million, showing that financial gain remains a key motivator. A rumored third fight against Jake Paul could further boost his earnings, a point UFC CEO Dana White confirmed, saying, “Francis is all about money.”

On the other hand, former UFC champion Michael Bisping doubts the matchup makes sense. On his YouTube channel, Bisping said, “We know that Jake Paul has been out there, and he typically is taking on people that are way older than him, like Mike Tyson, who was 58, Anderson Silva, who was way past his prime, and Nate Diaz, who was way smaller. Gervonta Davis really did take the pi–. That was the craziest shout ever… now boxing Francis Ngannou -listen, if he does it, fair play, but I just call ‘No. 1 bullsht on this, brother.’ I don’t see this happening. I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe it at all.”

The rumored Jake Paul vs. Francis Ngannou fight has sparked significant backlash, and with Ngannou remaining silent on the matter, the matchup’s future is uncertain. Would you be excited to see them face off inside the ring? Share your thoughts below.