Last year, after dominating every minute of his fight against Lucas Bahdi at the ‘Fear No Man’ card, Ashton Sylve suffered a devastating loss via a brutal knockout. The knockout of the year candidate by Bahdi left H2O face down, with an uncertain career trajectory. Things further got even murkier when Jake Paul signed Bahdi with MVP, putting Sylve’s future with the company in doubt.

Almost eight months after that devastating knockout defeat, the Californian has finally gotten his second chance against Nicolas Polanco. A chance he would not let slip by. Adding to the stakes, he’s gained the backing of a local boxing icon, an Atlanta legend, rallying behind him as he aims to turn the page on that haunting defeat.

A legendary presence in the arena

On Monday, boxing legend and former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield shared a message to Sylve. He wished luck to the 21-year-old, ahead of his comeback. “Ashton, good luck on your fight in Atlanta,” he said, keeping it short and sharp for Sylve.

The post was in collaboration with BLK Prime, H2o Sport, and Jack Rabbit Boxing Academy. The caption amped up the fight and read, “Legendary champ Evander Holyfield gave H2O a shoutout ahead of his return to the ring…in Evander’s own hometown ATL! You already know it’s gonna be special.” The post also confirmed the bout will stream live on BLK Prime, putting Sylve’s clash with Nicolas Polanco in the spotlight.

It seems like Holyfield is closely following the Californian’s journey and stated, “Go show them what hard work looks like.” Getting a fight against a veteran like Polanco is a golden opportunity for Sylve. A win here would prove his mettle to Jake Paul and MVP and that he is still worth gambling on.

Everything indicates that Holyfield will be present at Gateway Center Arena, College Park, Atlanta, Georgia, to show his support, increasing the stakes of the fight. A standout win here could erase the sting of his past setback and catapult him to greater heights. Furthermore, it is not just Sylve fighting for his future. Even Jake Paul, who has been struggling to find an opponent, was forced to take the matter into his own hands.

Jake Paul roped in a world-champion

In a recent interview with The Sun, Nakisa Bidarian claimed that despite struggling to find an opponent, ‘The Problem Child’ still has a packed year ahead. Revealing their plans, he stated, “We’re actively working on putting together Jake’s fight for this summer.” If everything works out perfectly, Jake Paul would have two fights this year, followed by an even busier 2026. “The plan is for Jake to fight twice in 2025 and 2 to 3 times in 2026,” Bidarian said.

Furthermore, it seems like MVP has hit a jackpot as rumors suggest that Paul might fight WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis before the year ends. Bidarian confirmed that there are talks between the camp, fueled by the duo’s shared animosity. With Davis tied up in a rematch against Lamont Roach, a late-October window could set the stage for this explosive matchup, leaving fans still buzzing about who Paul will face next.

Will Ashton Sylve make a successful comeback? And what do you think about Jake Paul’s chances against Gervonta Davis? Let us know your thoughts down below.