Francis Ngannou is just not curious about stepping in towards Jake Paul.
Subsequent week, Jake Paul is scheduled to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition boxing match on Netflix that figured to be one of the vital highly-watched fights of the 12 months. Nonetheless, this previous weekend, a lawsuit was filed by Davis’ ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel, accusing the boxer of battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and intentional infliction of emotional misery, throwing that combat into jeopardy.
Now, it seems that Paul and his promotion, Most Precious Promotions, are in search of potential replacements, with reviews suggesting they’ve reached out to former UFC fighters Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz. On Monday, Ngannou confirmed that Paul’s crew had reached out, however that he turned them down.
“No, there’s no such factor occurring,” Ngannou advised TMZ Sports activities. “Mainly, how can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? Gervonta Davis is a implausible boxer and is a one-shot knockout artist, however come on. We’re approach totally different. It is mindless. Gervonta Davis, you come, you say, ‘OK, the dimensions distinction can degree up.’ [But] at this level, for me, it is mindless.
“Sure, they reached out the opposite day and advised me how they want a substitute for Gervonta, and after I listened, I wasn’t getting it, and I stated, ‘OK, what can I do for you?’ They stated, ‘We’re in search of a substitute,’ however I nonetheless didn’t get it. ‘OK, what precisely can I do for you?’ He was like, ‘We’re eager about you to combat Jake to interchange Gervonta.’ ‘Which Jake?’ I used to be so confused. I wasn’t anticipating that in any respect.
“I’m like, ‘No, bro. Come on. Don’t disrespect me like that.’”
And apparently it’s a matter of precept. Although a combat towards Paul would seemingly be enormously profitable for Ngannou with presumably thousands and thousands of viewers on Netflix, “The Predator” says he doesn’t care about that.
“They even got here out after and stated, ‘What if the numbers are good?’” Ngannou stated. “He despatched some numbers, and I’m like, ‘It’s not concerning the quantity.’ If it was concerning the quantity, I’d let you know. I’m simply not .’ He is mindless for me. He’s not what I’m proper now.”
Paul has made a profession out of boxing former MMA fighters, however Ngannou can be an enormous step up in competitors.
Not solely does Ngannou have his personal boxing expertise, having fought Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua within the squared circle, however he would even be the primary Paul opponent who was larger than the previous Disney star. However whereas this is able to be an enormous step for Paul, Ngannou views the provide as a step again for himself.
“The combat is mindless,” Ngannou stated. “That’s what I believe. That’s my place. …
“I believe it’s disrespectful. What flattering? Come on. I don’t know, I don’t see it that approach. Perhaps I’m flawed, however that’s not the way in which that I see it. However I’ve little interest in that.”
Ngannou has not competed since October 2024, when he completed Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut.
