Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou revealed he was approached about potentially stepping in to face Jake Paul following the cancellation of Paul’s scheduled bout with Gervonta Davis. However, he firmly rejected the proposition, calling it “disrespectful.”
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Ngannou expressed his bewilderment at being considered as a replacement for Davis after the Netflix-streamed boxing event was called off.
“How can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou? Come on. Like, they’re way different and everything. It makes no sense,” Ngannou said, clearly puzzled by the suggestion.
The heavyweight detailed how he was contacted by Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, who reached out regarding a potential replacement fight against Paul.
“Nakisa reached out the other day and told me how they need a replacement for Gervonta. Then I said, okay, what can I do for you? He said, yeah, we’re looking for a replacement, but I still haven’t get it,” Ngannou explained.
When the conversation continued, Ngannou was surprised to learn he was being considered as Paul’s opponent.
“I was like, okay, then what exactly can I do for you? Like, we would think about you, Francis, Jake. I’m like, what? I’m like, who’s Jake? I was so confused,” he recounted.
The MMA star made it clear he had no interest in accepting the offer, regardless of the financial terms presented.
“I’m like, no, bro, come on. Don’t disrespect me like that,” Ngannou continued. “He sent out some number. I’m like, it’s not about the number. I’m not just interested. It makes no sense for me.”
When asked if he felt flattered by being considered for such a high-profile opportunity, Ngannou’s response was unambiguous: “I think it’s disrespectful instead. Why would it be flattering? Come on.”
The original Paul vs. Davis matchup was scheduled for November 14 at Miami’s Kaseya Center before Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions announced its cancellation.
The streaming platform had previously enjoyed record-breaking success with Paul’s match against Mike Tyson, which reportedly drew an average audience of 108 million live viewers globally.
While Netflix has indicated plans to reschedule a Paul headlining event later this year, it appears Ngannou won’t be considered as a potential opponent after his emphatic rejection of the idea.
