Francis Ngannou had to be convinced to believe that a boxing match between Jake Paul and this former champion could actually happen.
Paul is looking ahead to his next outing in the ring after moving to 12-1 as a professional this past June.
After Paul’s controversial Mike Tyson fight on Netflix last year, ‘The Problem Child’ returned to face a younger but still past-his-prime veteran of the sport in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
The former WBC champion was outmatched at Anaheim’s Honda Center, as Paul dominated Chavez Jr to add him to a list of boxing victims that also includes MMA veterans like Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley.
The latest result did little to quash calls for Paul to face an active boxer close to his age and weight. His rumored next fight, though, just might…
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Francis Ngannou shocked by talk of Jake Paul boxing Anthony Joshua
Paul called out Anthony Joshua after his victory earlier this summer. The ambitious plan was dismissed as unserious by many, but the ball has since continued to roll.
And the most recent update suggested the fight is well and truly on the table, with Eddie Hearn even calling Paul the “frontrunner” for Joshua’s next match.
That has come as a shock to the last man ‘AJ’ beat inside the ring. Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou before suffering the same fate himself against Daniel Dubois last time out.
When asked about the possible fight during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, ‘The Predator’ was in disbelief when told that “serious talks” are indeed underway.
“What do I think happens (in that fight)?” Ngannou said after initially laughing.
“I have seen that, I’m not even sure if they are serious though. They are? No, come on. You don’t believe that, do you?
“Bro, I think it’s crazy,” Ngannou added while shaking his head.
“I mean, what is the exact Jake Paul weight? First it’s like, even if we don’t get to the experience level, the weight difference and everything is tough.”
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Francis Ngannou is targeting a different heavyweight KO artist
While Paul keeps his attention on Ngannou’s former opponent, ‘The Predator’ is eyeing an ex-heavyweight king himself.
With a lack of opponents meaning an MMA return is unlikely for Ngannou in 2025, the Cameroonian is looking to make his way back to the ring for his third boxing match.
The brutal knockout artist knows who he wants next, and it’s the man Ngannou has long targeted — Deontay Wilder.
“We haven’t engaged personally, but it’s going to be soon,” Ngannou told Helwani about planned negotiations with ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
“We are setting some things up.”