Jake Paul eyes cruiserweight return or Ngannou fight in 2026

Jake Paul is targeting a return to boxing at cruiserweight before the end of 2026, with a potential heavyweight bout against Francis Ngannou also on the table. Paul has not fought since breaking his jaw in a sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December.

Nakisa Bidarian, Paul's business partner at Most Valuable Promotions, told BBC Sport that the 29-year-old has recently returned to the gym and is eyeing a comeback before the year closes. "I think his focus is on cruiserweight, outside of a potential boxing match against Francis Ngannou," Bidarian said. "His goal is to return before year-end."

Why Paul wants the Ngannou fight

Paul has repeatedly called out the former UFC heavyweight champion, who holds boxing losses to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. At a March news conference in Los Angeles promoting MVP's upcoming Ronda Rousey card, Paul goaded Ngannou by saying he ran away from him "like a duck." Ngannou responded by saying he now wants to beat Paul. The 39-year-old Cameroonian is set to fight Philipe Lins on the undercard of Rousey's 16 May comeback bout against Gina Carano.

The Joshua loss dropped Paul out of the WBA's cruiserweight rankings and required surgery to fit two titanium plates in his jaw. Bidarian said Paul has a desire to compete in 2026 and posted pictures from the gym with his boxing coach this week. He also floated the possibility of Paul facing the winner of Nate Diaz versus Mike Perry in an MMA bout, noting Paul would need six to eight months of dedicated training to prepare for a cage debut.

Diaz fights Perry on the 16 May Rousey undercard. Paul beat Diaz in boxing in 2023 and Perry in 2024, but both have called for an MMA rematch.

Source: bbc.com