Jake Paul claims he'd knock out 'terrible' former heavyweight champion

Jake Paul claims he would knock out former MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, branding him as 'terrible'.

Paul hasn't fought since his knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua on December 19, in an event which was broadcast live on Netflix.

He was taken to hospital after being knocked out in round seven, where he was diagnosed with a double broken jaw.

Paul required titanium plates to be inserted into his mouth, which limited him to consuming liquids for the following seven days.

He underwent a second surgery in February following his return from the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he was supporting his Dutch speed skater fiancee Jutta Leerdam.

The 27-year-old has not yet announced his return to professional boxing, but wants another crossover-style bout against Ngannou as his next fight.

Ngannou, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, left the UFC in 2023 to join the Professional Fighters' League (PFL), but only fought once for the promotion before leaving by mutual consent earlier this year.

He also had two boxing fights in 2023 and 2024 against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua respectively.

The Cameroonian hasn't fought since being knocked out by Joshua in the second round of their 10-round bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But Paul wants to tempt him back into the ring.

"I mean, I'm definitely going to keep on fighting," he told Sky Sports. "We'll see how the jaw heals up.

"I would say, there's a long list of opponents.

"I think most recently, Francis Ngannou was talking a lot of smack. I think that's an easy fight for me. I think he's a terrible boxer.

"I'd maybe want to go back up to heavyweight and knock him out, like Joshua did, and render him unconscious.

"He knows I lasted longer than him against Joshua, and didn't get put out. So I think maybe he wouldn't do the fight, because deep down he wouldn't want to get embarrassed."

Ngannou responds to Paul call-out

Ngannou signed with Paul's Most Valuable Promotions company in March, and will make his return to MMA on Netflix's first-ever live MMA card on May 16.

The 31-year-old will take on Brazil's Philipe Lins on the undercard of the main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

Ngannou told TMZ that he wants to 'slap' Paul and would either fight him in a boxing ring or an MMA cage: "I just feel like I need to give him some slaps.

"That's how I feel, you know, like slapping him off."