Francis Ngannou has responded to Jake Paul’s frequent challenges, making it clear that the ongoing public exchange is becoming personal. Ngannou expressed his frustration with Paul’s persistent callouts and dismissive comments about his boxing abilities.
In a recent interview, Ngannou stated, “I just want to give him some slaps,” criticizing Paul for “talking a lot of crap” and suggesting Paul should have learned from his recent knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Ngannou believes Paul’s aspirations to fight him in the heavyweight division are unfounded given his lack of experience at that level.
Jake Paul has openly expressed his desire to fight Ngannou, previously labeling the former UFC champion as an “easy fight” and a “terrible boxer.” This has led to a heated exchange of words between the two, with Ngannou viewing Paul’s approach as disrespectful and suggesting he wants to “kick” his ass rather than engage in a sporting contest.
Despite the public sparring, both individuals are connected through Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Ngannou is slated to compete against Philipe Lins on May 16th on an MVP-promoted card. While Ngannou has acknowledged Paul’s development as a fighter, his sentiment towards a potential matchup remains unchanged.
The significant experience gap between Ngannou, who has faced boxing titans like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and Paul, who has primarily fought outside the heavyweight division and suffered a loss to Joshua, is a central point of Ngannou’s criticism. Ngannou feels Paul is speaking like a seasoned heavyweight without having earned that status.
Currently, no official fight agreement exists between Ngannou and Paul. However, the public feud and clear commercial interest suggest a potential future matchup if circumstances align. Ngannou’s latest statement conveys his weariness with the verbal exchanges and his readiness to settle the matter in person.
Francis Ngannou’s next fight is scheduled for May 16, 2026, in a five-round heavyweight MMA bout against Philipe Lins. The fight will be part of MVP’s inaugural MMA card, which is also being promoted by Netflix.
English Translation:
Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul are once again in the spotlight together, even without a contracted fight. Following months of challenges, taunts, and debates about Paul’s suitability for heavyweight boxing, Ngannou has delivered his most direct response to date, downplaying the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s ambitions and making it clear that the rivalry is escalating to a personal level.
Francis Ngannou has again pushed back against Jake Paul, this time with a statement that quickly circulated throughout the boxing and MMA media. Speaking about Paul’s repeated callouts, Ngannou told The Schmo in an interview: “I just want to give him some slaps.” He added that Paul had been “talking a lot of crap” and should have learned from his first heavyweight fight, which ended in a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.
Francis Ngannou Mocks Jake Paul’s Heavyweight Talk
The latest exchange didn’t arise from nothing. Jake Paul has been vocal about his desire to face Ngannou in the future and has portrayed the former UFC champion as a beatable opponent in boxing. In March, Paul stated that Ngannou was an “easy fight” and called him a “terrible boxer,” expressing his interest in that bout as part of his comeback after his loss to Joshua.
Ngannou has responded to this pressure on multiple occasions. At a press event in March for Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) MMA launch, he declared that he was no longer interested in fighting Paul purely from a sporting perspective but rather wanted to beat him up because he viewed Paul’s attitude as disrespectful. BoxingScene reported Ngannou telling Paul he had acted like “a small boy” and that this disrespect was the reason he now wanted to “kick” his ass.
Both men are associated with MVP, even as they engage in public disputes. Ngannou is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins on May 16th on a card promoted by Paul’s company, with the announcement made during MVP’s MMA debut rollout. Around the same time, TMZ reported that Ngannou had expressed growing respect for Paul’s development as a fighter, though this respect had not altered his view of the potential matchup or the trash talk.
The heavyweight angle is what gives Ngannou’s latest quote its impact. Ngannou has shared the ring with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, narrowly missing an upset against Fury in October 2023 before being knocked out by Joshua in March 2024. In contrast, Paul has built his boxing career outside the heavyweight division and was stopped by Joshua in his own venture into that weight class. This disparity in experience is central to Ngannou’s mockery: from his perspective, Paul is still talking like a heavyweight before proving he belongs there.
For the time being, there is no official fight agreement between them. What does exist is an ongoing feud, public statements from both sides, and clear commercial interest if the timing is right. Ngannou’s latest message was simple and direct: he is tired of the talk, unimpressed by the heavyweight ambition, and very willing to confront Jake Paul in person if the opportunity arises.
Ngannou is scheduled to return to MMA on May 16, 2026, when he faces Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight bout at Intuit Dome on MVP’s first MMA card, a show that Netflix has also promoted as part of its live event lineup.
