Francis Ngannou has no interest in boxing Jake Paul, dismissing the idea as “silly,” while acknowledging the entertainment value of Paul’s recent fight against Mike Tyson and defending it against criticism.
Francis Ngannou? Yeah, he’s got zero interest in boxing Jake Paul. None whatsoever.
Jake Paul recently snagged a unanimous decision win over Mike Tyson in an eight-round main event on Netflix’s Paul vs. Tyson show. Not exactly a fight for the history books, but hey, Tyson walked away with a hefty paycheck at 58! Afterward, Ngannou took to Twitter, playfully suggesting he’d slap Paul next time they meet. Paul’s comeback? Maybe Jon Jones is the “better heavyweight after all.” Cheeky, right?
When asked about fighting Paul, Ngannou simply brushed it off. “No, no, no, no, c’mon, don’t be silly,” he told TMZ. He’s not interested. At all.
Ngannou joked that maybe if both Jake and Logan Paul were thrown into the cage together, it could be something worth considering. “C’mon, like respect me a little bit,” he added.
Recently, Ngannou made his MMA return in October by swiftly taking down rising heavyweight Renan Ferreira at PFL Battle of the Giants’ main event. A triumphant comeback indeed!
Despite their playful banter, both Ngannou and Paul hold executive roles within the PFL and have publicly supported each other over recent years. Ngannou continues to defend Paul amidst criticism surrounding his fight with Tyson.
“We’re doing entertainment here,” Ngannou remarked. “It’s Netflix; you go there for entertainment. If this isn’t entertaining, then what are you looking for?” He pointed out the curiosity factor—seeing Tyson compete at his age was intriguing enough for many viewers.
“They’re breaking the system,” Ngannou noted. Many people might not be thrilled about it, seeing it as a freelancer defying institutional norms. But hey, that’s showbiz!
“Every time you go against institutions,” he concluded, “you’re going to expect a hit.” Doesn’t mean you’re wrong though.