Calvin Ford doesn’t have a problem with his fighter, Gervonta Davis, having the chips stacked against him heading into his
exhibition against Jake Paul.The WBA lightweight champ signed off on a catchweight 60 pounds above his normal class at 195 pounds. It isn’t clear whether their
November 14 matchup on Netflix, which will take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, will include a rehydration clause.
Regardless, Ford, who’s trained Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) since he was an amateur, isn't worried about a significantly bigger opponent. What he does have an issue with, however, is the gloves.
“My only concern is the gloves,” Ford told Fight Hub TV. “We don’t fight in 12-ounce gloves, that’s training gloves.”
All fighters up to 135 pounds must wear 8-ounce gloves. Anything above that, fighters must use 10 ounces. Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), who competes in the cruiserweight division, wears the latter.
Due to their showdown being an exhibition, paired with the extreme difference in weight, both fighters must compete with 12 ounces. Ford isn’t a fan of it.
When last seen, Ford’s fighter had the gloves he wanted, but didn't get the result.
On March 1 in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center against Lamont Roach, despite being a gigantic favorite,
Davis was fortunate to settle for a majority draw.
As for
Paul, he picked up a
decision against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
With Paul vs. Davis not being sanctioned as an official fight, Ford believes they should have leeway on the size of the gloves.
“Jake fights in 10s, Tank fights in 8s, so he’s losing four ounces,” he said. "So my thing is, put Tank in 8s, put Jake in 10s. That makes the fight more interesting. He can wear the 10s, and we can wear the 8s. Then you got a fight.”