After his intense bout with Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul indicated that he might face another heavyweight in his upcoming fights.
Known primarily as a cruiserweight, the social media fighter appeared noticeably smaller—by about 30 pounds and six inches—compared to Joshua in their recent match. Still, after securing a win against former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, Paul feels confident about possibly taking on the Cameroonian fighter next.
Ngannou, recognized as one of the hardest hitters in MMA and undefeated for several years, transitioned to boxing as well. Despite losing to reigning world champion Tyson Fury by split decision two years ago, Ngannou showed his capability in the ring.
On a recent episode of Impaulsive, hosted by Logan Paul, Jake addressed his knockout loss even after undergoing surgery just hours prior. He confidently claimed he lasted longer against Joshua than Ngannou did, having made it to the sixth round compared to Ngannou’s second-round exit.
“I told everyone I’d do better than Francis, and that he doesn’t have a strong chin,” Jake said. “Francis is kind of a softie… I’m going to fight Francis. Hey, maybe now he’ll accept.”
Ngannou previously declined a fight with Paul, which was considered too uneven after Paul’s initial bout against Gervonta Davis was canceled. Ngannou expressed surprise and confusion over the proposed matchup, ultimately realizing that Joshua was also fighting Paul, which piqued his interest.
Fan Take: This development is significant for fight fans because it highlights Jake Paul’s continued ambition to compete with high-profile heavyweights, potentially reshaping perceptions about crossover fighters. A bout between Paul and Ngannou could bring exciting dynamics from both MMA and boxing worlds, pushing the boundaries of the sport’s evolving landscape.
