In a move that has stunned traditionalists, BoxRec has introduced a brand-new classification — the “Hybrid Professional” category — just in time for the controversial Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis showdown on November 14.
The pioneering but divisive decision effectively grants the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the reigning WBA lightweight champion a new kind of professional tag, even though the bout remains officially listed as an “Exhibition boxing bout.”
Hybrid Professional: A Technical Loophole
According to BoxRec’s official description, the contest “will not go on either fighter’s official record” but will appear under the Hybrid Professional classification for all to see.
That technical loophole means the fight — despite being a 200-pound man facing a 135-pound champion — will still be preserved on the sport’s most trusted results database.
For many boxing purists, it’s another slap in the face, signaling a further erosion of the sport’s integrity in the name of spectacle.
Jake Paul’s Quest for Credibility
For years, Jake Paul has declared his mission to “change the sport.” Now, the introduction of a hybrid record may be his most straightforward path yet to that recognition — without having to face legitimate contenders in his own division.
The former cruiserweight, who fought at heavyweight just last year, continues to market himself as a boxing disruptor. But critics argue this latest move is more about optics than legacy.
“They’ll never give me credit until I have a world championship belt,” Paul said recently. “But that’s okay — belts collect dust. What I’ve done in the sport is unprecedented.”
Unprecedented, perhaps. Authentic, less so.
The Tank Davis Spectacle
Gervonta “Tank” Davis, meanwhile, has embraced the event as an entertainment showcase rather than a sporting milestone.
“Boxing wins come November 14,” Davis said. “It’s not just me and Jake in a fight — it’s a whole card. We’re just giving boxing what it needs, and that’s excitement.”
But many insiders argue that excitement shouldn’t come at the cost of weight integrity or fair competition. With Davis walking around at 140 pounds and Paul outweighing him by roughly 60, the matchup raises serious questions about sanctioning, safety, and what truly counts as a “professional” bout.
A Dividing Line for the Sport
Paul supporters will undoubtedly hail BoxRec’s hybrid category as an “ingenious solution” — a way to document crossover fights without polluting the professional records that define boxing’s lineage.
But for purists, it represents the latest dilution of what separates professional boxing from social spectacle. A hybrid record ensures the fight lives forever on BoxRec, but not in the sport’s official annals.
Jake Paul promised to make history — and in a way, he has. Not the kind boxing’s gold standard would recognize in BoxRec’s new Hybrid Professional era.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights.
[View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.