Francis Ngannou open to Jake Paul fight after press conference callout

Francis Ngannou is now targeting a boxing match with Jake Paul after the YouTuber-turned-fighter called him out at a press conference for Ngannou's May 16 MMA return against Philipe Lins.

Ngannou told Sky Sports News that Paul was not on his radar until the verbal challenge, but the former UFC heavyweight champion believes he can handle the social media star. "At first, I wasn't so excited," he said. "I wasn't looking into that, but I think at some point I need to handle him. I think I can kick his ass, if I might say so."

Ngannou credits Paul's boxing evolution

The Cameroonian heavyweight acknowledged Paul has earned legitimacy in the sport despite early skepticism. "I have been watching his career so closely from the beginning, because in the beginning nobody believed in him," Ngannou said. "And then I think he proved to everybody that he was serious." Paul's MVP promotional company is organizing the Rousey-Carano card at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles where Ngannou faces Lins, having returned to MMA after his second-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in 2024.

Paul is currently recovering from a broken jaw suffered in his own stoppage defeat to Joshua last December. Ngannou, who dropped Tyson Fury before losing a disputed decision in 2023, also weighed in on the long-awaited Fury-Joshua showdown expected later this year. He gave Fury the edge if the fight goes the distance but conceded Joshua carries knockout power early.

Ngannou returns to the cage May 16 at the Intuit Dome before any potential Paul boxing match materializes.

Source: skysports.com