Francis Ngannou Dismisses Jake Paul Fight Talks as Ridiculous

Francis Ngannou Has No Interest in Jake Paul Showdown, Says It’s ‘Ridiculous’

In a recent conversation, Francis Ngannou made it clear that a fight with Jake Paul is off the table. The former UFC heavyweight champion responded to questions from TMZ Sports following the buzzworthy Netflix boxing event, where Paul achieved a unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson—a spectacle that captivated an impressive 60 million viewers.

When we asked Ngannou about his tweet expressing his intent to “slap El Gallo” the next time he encountered Jake, it was evident he was not amused by the idea of stepping into the ring with Paul. The 38-year-old fighter dismissed the notion, stating it was outright disrespectful. “Come on, like, respect me a little bit,” Ngannou remarked, firmly putting the rumors to rest.

While he is not interested in a match with Paul, Ngannou does acknowledge the entertainment value that Paul brings to the scene. “If this is not entertainment, I do not know what you are looking for,” he noted, admitting that the interest surrounding Tyson’s performance at his age added a layer of curiosity that fans appreciated.

As far as potential future bouts, Ngannou might be more open to the idea of facing Deontay Wilder. The former heavyweight champion has expressed a desire to negotiate with Ngannou, which has piqued Ngannou’s interest. However, he emphasized that his primary focus remains on MMA for the time being. “I will wait a couple of months to see if the PFL will pull something up,” he explained. “If not, I will see if there is something in boxing either. But it’s not like it’s top in my mind.”

In summary, while a matchup with Jake Paul is a definitive no for Ngannou, a potential clash with Wilder remains a possibility worth considering in the future.