Francis Ngannou has called out Jake Paul for what he described as a “disrespectful” offer to fight him.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer reportedly contacted Ngannou after his planned exhibition match with Gervonta Davis — set for November 14 — was cancelled. The bout had already sparked debate because of the large weight difference between the two; Davis fights at 135 pounds while Paul usually competes around 200 pounds.
Speaking to TMZ, Ngannou confirmed that Paul’s camp reached out to him but said the idea made no sense.
“No, there is no such thing happening,” Ngannou said. “They reached out the other day and said they were looking for a replacement for Gervonta. I asked, ‘What can I do for you?’ Then they said, ‘We are thinking about you fighting Jake.’ I said, ‘Jake? Don’t disrespect me like that. It makes no sense.’”
In response, Paul fired back on social media, mocking Ngannou’s recent boxing losses.
“Dear Francis — just say you already got humiliated in boxing and are scared to lose to Jake Paul,” Paul wrote. “You are light work, my friend. Stuck in mud.”
Paul has won 12 of his 13 boxing matches, including one against Mike Tyson.
Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, gained respect in boxing after knocking down Tyson Fury in his debut fight, even though he lost on points. However, he was later knocked out by Anthony Joshua.
Paul has also expressed interest in fighting Joshua in the future.
