Francis Ngannou is not interested in stepping in against Jake Paul.
Next week, Jake Paul is scheduled to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition boxing match on Netflix that figured to be one of the most highly-watched fights of the year. However, this past weekend, a lawsuit was filed by Davis’ ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel, accusing the boxer of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, throwing that fight into jeopardy.
Now, it appears that Paul and his promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, are looking for potential replacements, with reports suggesting they’ve reached out to former UFC fighters Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. On Monday, Ngannou confirmed that Paul’s team had reached out, but that he turned them down.
“No, there’s no such thing happening,” Ngannou told TMZ Sports. “Basically, how can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? Gervonta Davis is a fantastic boxer and is a one-shot knockout artist, but come on. We’re way different. It makes no sense. Gervonta Davis, you come, you say, ‘OK, the size difference can level up.’ [But] at this point, for me, it makes no sense.
“Yes, they reached out the other day and told me how they need a replacement for Gervonta, and after I listened, I wasn’t getting it, and I said, ‘OK, what can I do for you?’ They said, ‘We’re looking for a replacement,’ but I still didn’t get it. ‘OK, what exactly can I do for you?’ He was like, ‘We are thinking about you to fight Jake to replace Gervonta.’ ‘Which Jake?’ I was so confused. I wasn’t expecting that at all.
“I’m like, ‘No, bro. Come on. Don’t disrespect me like that.’”
And apparently it’s a matter of principle. Though a fight against Paul would likely be enormously lucrative for Ngannou with possibly millions of viewers on Netflix, “The Predator” says he doesn’t care about that.
“They even came out after and said, ‘What if the numbers are good?’” Ngannou said. “He sent some numbers, and I’m like, ‘It’s not about the number.’ If it was about the number, I would tell you. I’m just not interested.’ He makes no sense for me. He’s not what I’m looking at right now.”
Paul has made a career out of boxing former MMA fighters, but Ngannou would be a huge step up in competition.
Not only does Ngannou have his own boxing experience, having fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the squared circle, but he would also be the first Paul opponent who was bigger than the former Disney star. But while this would be a big step for Paul, Ngannou views the offer as a step back for himself.
“The fight makes no sense,” Ngannou said. “That’s what I think. That’s my position. …
“I think it’s disrespectful. What flattering? Come on. I don’t know, I don’t see it that way. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s not the way that I see it. But I have no interest in that.”
Ngannou has not competed since October 2024, when he finished Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut.
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