LAS VEGAS — John Davis — one of Power Slap’s original middleweight kings — has finally broken his silence after months out of the spotlight. Once one of the sport’s most dominant figures, Davis hasn’t stepped up to the table since early 2024, and fans have been wondering why.
Speaking exclusively with Slap News, Davis opened up about medical setbacks, shifting momentum, and his belief that he’s still the rightful next contender for the middleweight title.
“Live and kicking,” Davis said. “Grateful to be here.”
The Match That Never Happened
Originally scheduled to face Brandon Rhodes in Abu Dhabi, Davis says the matchup was scrapped under confusing circumstances.
“Everybody thinks my MMA fight was why that match fell out,” Davis explained. “But the medical suspension would’ve been up before that. They just said they wanted me to heal longer — I don’t really know. It is what it is.”
That cancellation left Davis sidelined while Rhodes went on to compete in Las Vegas, a shift that still puzzles the former champion.
The Tooth Infection From Hell
While training and waiting for a new fight date, Davis was hit with an unexpected battle — one that had nothing to do with slap fighting.
“I had a tooth infection that was misdiagnosed since last August,” Davis revealed. “The outside of the tooth looked fine, but the inside was rotten. It kept getting called an ear infection. Then one day, my cheek exploded.”
The ordeal ended in a root canal and weeks of recovery. “I’m healed now,” he said, “but yeah, that was brutal. It definitely played a part in how things went.”
“Whatever Happens, Happens”
Now, as Power Slap continues to expand globally — with shows in Saudi Arabia and a rumored return to Las Vegas for Power Slap 18 — Davis remains uncertain about when fans will see him again.
“I’d like to say I’ll be ready,” he said. “But honestly, the universe has been throwing everything at me lately. Before, I used to say things and they’d happen. Now it’s like… whatever happens, happens.”
It’s an honest reflection from one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors — a man used to controlling his destiny, now learning to let go.
“The Division’s in Chaos Again”
Despite the layoff, Davis is still watching closely. And his verdict on the state of the middleweight division is blunt.
“It’s in chaos again,” he said. “There’s a lot going on — guys with issues outside of competition, people jumping around. They can only do so much with what they’ve got.”
Still, Davis believes his résumé speaks for itself.
“People won’t like it, but I don’t care,” he said. “I only lost once — to Isaiah. I was on a five-fight win streak before that. I still think I deserve a title shot before any of them.”
The Case for a Comeback
Davis knows the middleweight landscape has shifted — Brandon Rhodes has surged to No. 3, new names are entering the mix, and the belt remains tightly contested. But he isn’t opposed to fighting his way back.
“I’ve fought down the rankings before,” he said. “I’ve gone from one to two, then to three — that was the first time in years I wasn’t top two. Now I’m at four. Hell, they could offer me someone unranked and I’d still take it if it gets me closer to the title.”
And for those new contenders rising through the ranks? Davis has a message:
“You’re welcome,” he laughed. “Every middleweight out there — I dragged this division through the mud waiting for you guys to catch up. You finally got some good bouts now? That’s thanks to me.”
The Match That Could Have Been: John Davis vs. Austin Turpin
In one of Power Slap’s most surprising behind-the-scenes developments, Davis confirmed he was offered a light heavyweight matchup against Austin Turpin — a move that shocked fans and insiders alike.
“No one expected that one,” Davis admitted. “But of course I was going to take it. He could’ve gone up there and knocked me out — it happens to anyone in this sport. I thought it would’ve been fun. He talks a lot, and I’ve been talked to my whole life. I’d have had some counter lines that would’ve shut him up real quick.”
What’s Next for “JD”?
Whether it’s Power Slap 18, a return to Abu Dhabi, or a showdown with Rhodes or Turpin, Davis says he’s ready to answer the call when it comes — and when the universe allows.
“I just take things as they come now,” he said. “When it’s my time, I’ll be back at that table. And when I am — it’s going to be fireworks.”