The Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis exhibition fight has taken more twists and turns than a blockbuster thriller. After being denied approval by the Georgia Commission due to the drastic weight difference, the bout was officially relocated to Miami. However, even there, the Florida Athletic Commission enforced a strict set of conditions for the fight to proceed.

The match will take place at a maximum weight limit of 195 pounds, over ten three-minute rounds, with both fighters wearing 12-ounce gloves. And if no knockout occurs, ringside judges will decide the winner, one of whom will be powered by AI. Now, just weeks away from fight night, BoxRec, the boxing record-keeping site, has given the bout a unique classification.

What does HYB-Pro mean on BoxRec?

Earlier today, Source of Boxing on X shared an intriguing update, writing, “BoxRec has officially listed the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis fight as a ‘Hybrid Professional’ bout.” Typically, BoxRec does not record exhibition matches, but this time, the site has introduced a new classification specifically for ‘hybrid boxing fighters.’ This designation, which some might see as a loophole, applies to matchups that combine elements of both professional boxing and exhibitions — such as cross-weight contests like the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis showdown.

These are listed separately from standard professional records to reflect their unique sanctioning, often under athletic commissions for high-profile but non-traditional contests. Results from HYB-Pro fights typically don’t count toward official pro stats but are tracked for visibility and historical reference. Hence, ‘Source of Boxing’ added, “This fight will not count towards their professional records, but instead will be listed in the ‘HYB-Pro’ section.” However, this hasn’t deterred Jake Paul from wanting to do what he plans on doing on November 14th at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 

Jake Paul is aiming for one of the most viral KOs in the Gervonta Davis fight

Paul — the showman that he is — is promising nothing short of a viral moment when he squares off against Gervonta Davis next month. Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, the ‘Problem Child’ declared that he’s going for a highlight-reel finish. “I’m going to knock this guy out,” Paul said confidently.

“It’ll probably create one of the most viral knockouts in the history of boxing.” With the fight on the horizon, Jake Paul claims he is “locked in, fully focused” and “feeling amazing.” The 28-year-old believes beating Davis will silence his critics once and for all, adding that no one can question the fight’s legitimacy. 

“We have full-on, random drug testing,” he noted, dismissing any talk of it being “rigged.”

Having said that, the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis exhibition will become part of history thanks to its innovative approach. First, they decided to have a winner in an exhibition, and then AI as a judge—it’s truly a unique fight that even BoxRec was compelled to create a new designation for it. What do you make of all this?