Fight fans can officially rule out Francis Ngannou from the list of potential opponents for Jake Paul. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, the former UFC heavyweight champion made it crystal clear that a bout against the YouTube sensation-turned-boxer is not something he would entertain anytime soon—or perhaps ever.
When asked about the possibility of stepping into the ring with Paul, Ngannou couldn’t hide his disbelief. “No, no, no, no,” Ngannou responded with a chuckle. “Come on. Don’t be silly. … Maybe if we put the two Paul brothers in the cage, lock the cage, maybe there is something to do there. Come on, respect me a little bit.”
His playful but direct comment made it evident that he views the idea as almost laughable, a significant mismatch in both experience and respect.
The difference in how both fighters entered the world of boxing helps explain Ngannou’s reaction. Jake Paul began his career in the ring by facing off against a fellow YouTuber, a fight largely regarded as more spectacle than sport.
Since then, Paul has made headlines by taking on aging athletes like former NBA player Nate Robinson and retired UFC stars such as Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Nate Diaz—none of whom had serious boxing credentials. His only fight against an actual boxer of comparable age and experience was against Tommy Fury, a match that resulted in Paul’s first and only professional loss.
Ngannou’s journey in boxing, by contrast, could not be more different. The former UFC champion made his professional boxing debut against none other than Tyson Fury, one of the greatest heavyweights of this generation, and followed it up by fighting Anthony Joshua, another multi-time heavyweight champion.
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Although Ngannou ultimately lost both bouts, he earned widespread respect for his incredible performance—even knocking Fury down at one point and pushing both champions to their limits.
His performances showed that Ngannou, though new to the sport, could hold his own against two of the best heavyweight boxers in the world, with many fans believing he even deserved the victory over Fury.
Given this stark contrast in backgrounds and achievements, it’s hardly surprising that Ngannou would be dismissive of a matchup with Jake Paul.
For Ngannou, whose foray into boxing has involved going toe-to-toe with the very best, the idea of facing someone whose journey has been more about celebrity spectacle than true competition seems almost beneath him.
His statement underscores that, for now, he has bigger challenges in mind—ones that will push him as an elite athlete, not simply draw views on social media.
