Boxing
Jake Paul vs. Francis Ngannou: Will they fight?
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Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou were on friendly terms when both were under the PFL banner. But things took a turn for the worse at the end of 2025.
Paul was looking for an opponent to replace Gervonta Davis, who got pulled due to his ongoing legal issues. He reached out to Ngannou and got rebuffed. Things might be cycling upwards. Ngannou (18-3) secured his release from PFL last week. On Monday, it was announced that the lineal MMA heavyweight champion had agreed to a deal with Paul's Most Valuable Promotions and will compete in the co-main event of the Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano fight against Philipe Lins (18-5).
Before the press conference on Wednesday, Paul and Ngannou had a bit of an awkward greeting.
As the presser was going on, Paul talked on the microphone and questioned Ngannou's integrity on not fighting him back in December. Paul lost to Joshua by sixth-round knockout, while Ngannou lost to the former two-time unified heavyweight champion by second-round knockout in March 2024.
"You were the option before Anthony Joshua and ran like a duck," Paul said to Ngannou. "And I bet you didn't think I would last longer than you did with Anthony earlier. Just so you know that you get worked in boxing. And I would love to see you someday."
Ngannou didn't sit and just let Paul get his words. The former UFC and PFL heavyweight champion explained to Paul that he didn't like his attitude and would make him pay for it.
"No, I think you were just being a small boy," Ngannou retorted. "Not understanding, being a little disrespectful. That's why I want to kick your ass now. I really didn't want to fight you. But now, I want to beat you."
DAZN News has learned from sources that if Ngannou beats Lins, a boxing fight with Paul is on the table for the backend of the year or early 2027, as the Ohio native is still recovering from a second surgery on his broken jaw suffered from the Joshua fight.
Will Paul-Ngannou fight? Yes, not in MMA, but inside the boxing ring. If Paul and Ngannou ever do fight, who wins and how?
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