Francis Ngannou recently weighed in on some recent reports centred on him potentially taking on a fight with Jake Paul in less than two weeks’ time.
Gervonta Davis was initially slated to fight Paul and while not formally out, Tank Davis may not make it to the ring for the planned November 14th bout after a recent round of allegations centred on domestic violence came out regarding Davis. Some loose reports regarding possible Davis replacements mentioned former Paul foe Nate Diaz, Terence Crawford, Ryan Garcia, and Ngannou himself.
During an interview with TMZ Sports, the lineal MMA heavyweight champion was asked if there was any possibility he would step up in the place of Tank Davis to fight Jake Paul on a Netflix card in less than two weeks, Ngannou said,
“No, there’s no such thing happening. Basically; how can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? Like I mean Gervonta Davis is a fantastic boxer and he is a one shot knockout artist but come on. Like the weight difference and everything, it makes no sense. Gervonta Davis you count; you say ok, the size difference can level off but at this point for me, it make no sense.”
Francis Ngannou when a Jake Paul bout was offered to him: “don’t disrespect me like that”
Francis Ngannou was also asked if Jake Paul‘s team formally reached out to him regarding an opportunity to clash with ‘The Problem Child’ this month, Ngannou stated,
“Yes, Nikisa [Bidarian] reached out the other day and tell me how they need the replacement for Gervonta. After I listen, I wasn’t getting it then I say ok, what can I do for you? What exactly? He said yeah, we are looking for a replacement but I still haven’t get it.”
“I was like ok, what exactly can I do for you [laughs]? He was like yeah can you; like we think about you to fight Jake. I’m like what? He said we think about you to fight Jake to replace Gervonta and I’m like which Jake [laughs]?”
“I was so confused. I wasn’t expecting that at all. He said yeah, Jake Paul, he’s fighting and I’m like no, bro, come on, don’t. I mean, don’t disrespect me like that. Then they say, even come out after and say what if the number had been good. He sent out some number. I’m like it’s not about the number. If it was about the number, I would have told you I’m just not interested. It make no sense for me. It’s not what I’m looking at right now.”