When Jake Paul and Gervonta “Tank” Davis step into the ring this November in Miami, they’ll be making history in more ways than one. The Florida Athletic Commission has confirmed that their highly anticipated exhibition will feature an unprecedented judging panel: two professional human judges alongside one artificial intelligence scoring system.
This technological addition marks a significant milestone for combat sports. While AI scoring has been tested informally during previous matches, including the Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury contest, this represents one of the first occasions where an artificial intelligence judge has been officially recognized as part of a sanctioned event’s judging team.
The commission has been clear about the experimental nature of this innovation. The AI scorecard will be recorded and reviewed but it won’t determine the bout’s outcome. According to regulatory officials, the decision allows for transparency while maintaining traditional oversight of the sport.
“The Florida Athletic Commission remains committed to transparency, regulatory compliance and the continued safe advancement of combative sports in Florida,”
commission representatives stated.
The exhibition itself will span ten three-minute rounds with both competitors wearing 12-ounce gloves. Despite being classified as an exhibition, the bout will feature real stakes and drama. Knockouts and technical knockouts are permitted and would immediately end the contest, though the result won’t appear in either athlete’s professional record.
“The exhibition will classify knockouts and technical knockouts as ending the contest in the same manner as professional contests,”
the commission confirmed.
“The match will be logged in the national registry as an exhibition and it will not count toward either athlete’s professional record.”
The Miami venue represents a last-minute change after promoters withdrew their application in Georgia. Most Valuable Productions, the company co-founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, successfully secured Florida’s approval under the state’s exhibition guidelines.
Bidarian addressed the details during the inaugural news conference, emphasizing the bout’s competitive nature despite its exhibition status.
“There will be a victor because the combatants have agreed and the commission has approved a maximum weight of 195lb for this exhibition,”
he explained.
“Sitting ringside will be three commission-approved world-class professional judges that will score every round to ensure there’s a decisive outcome if it goes the distance.”
The matchup presents a fascinating stylistic contrast primarily due to the substantial size difference between the two men. Paul typically competes around 190 pounds and has spent most of his career at cruiserweight, while Davis last competed at 135 pounds as a lightweight world champion. The weight disparity has generated considerable discussion though both competitors have enrolled in the highest level of testing with USADA.
The glove size also represents a compromise between the two athletes’ typical equipment. Davis normally wears 8-ounce gloves as a lightweight while Paul often uses 10-ounce gloves. For this exhibition, both will compete with 12-ounce gloves.
Paul, who holds 12 victories and one defeat on his professional record, hasn’t secured a stoppage in his last two contests. The 28-year-old appears eager to change that trend.
“There’s a lot of holes in his defence that a lot of people haven’t exposed before,”
Paul said of his opponent.
“I haven’t got a knockout in a long time, so I’m itching. I’m just excited to be able to deliver that for the fans and have another most viral knockout ever.”
Davis, 30, brings an impressive résumé of 30 victories and one draw. His response to Paul’s challenge emphasized his speed advantage and experience against larger opponents.
“Every time I compete, it’s fireworks,”
Davis stated.
“I’m much quicker than him. He’s much stronger and much bigger but we all know that it’s harder for taller opponents to face a shorter one. He’s decent and he’s going to hold up for a couple of rounds but once it gets hot in there you know how things play out.”
The global broadcast on Netflix ensures worldwide attention for this technological experiment. Beyond the main event, the card will feature several competitive professional bouts including a super featherweight title match between Alycia Baumgardner and Leila Beaudoin.
