,Even while recovering from a surgically repaired broken jaw, Jake Paul isn’t backing away from confrontation. In his first interview since being stopped by heavyweight great Anthony Joshua last Friday in Miami, Paul turned his attention to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, taking shots at the PFL star during an appearance on Impaulsive.
Paul was knocked out by Joshua in the sixth round of their heavyweight bout, which streamed live on Netflix a performance that lasted four rounds longer than Ngannou’s boxing debut against Joshua, which ended in a second-round stoppage in March 2024.
Paul used that comparison to fuel his confidence. “I’ll fight Francis,” Paul said. “I told everyone that I would do better than Francis, and that Francis kind of has no chin. Francis is low-key soft.”
How the Joshua Fight Came Together
Paul revealed that Joshua wasn’t the original opponent. He was initially scheduled to face Gervonta Davis on Dec. 19, but that bout was scrapped due to Davis’ legal issues stemming from an alleged assault at a Miami strip club.
With that fight canceled, Paul and Most Valuable Promotions scrambled for alternatives. Ngannou was among the fighters contacted, but he declined the offer and reportedly felt insulted by the proposal.
Now, Paul believes his showing against Joshua may have changed Ngannou’s perspective. “I think maybe now he’ll take it and be like, ‘Oh, sh*t,’” Paul said.
Surgery, Pain and No Regrets
Paul’s appearance on Impaulsive was brief. He was not present for the full episode alongside his mother and brother Logan Paul, explaining that he’s still dealing with pain following surgery that required titanium plates and multiple screws in his jaw.
Despite the brutal loss, Paul struck a reflective and upbeat tone about his boxing journey. “I did have fun, I love this sport,” Paul said. “I love this job. It doesn’t even feel like a job. It’s f*cking awesome.
“Win, lose or draw, this sport has done so much for me. I’m happy and grateful for all the life memories created in these fight weeks.”
Whether Ngannou takes the bait remains to be seen. But even sidelined and stitched together with metal, Paul is already plotting his next collision with combat sports’ biggest heavy hitters.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
