Paul targets Ngannou next: 'I'll knock him out like Joshua did!'

Despite sustaining a broken jaw against Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul is looking to come back to boxing; Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper fight to unify the WBC and WBO lightweight world championships at Kensington's Olympia on Sunday April 5, live on Sky Sports

Monday 23 March 2026 22:56, UK

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Jake Paul is looking to return to action, targeting a bout with Francis Ngannou next.

Paul, the YouTube influencer turned professional prizefighter, shocked the boxing world not only when he took a fight with former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in December but lasted into the sixth round.

Ngannou is an elite heavyweight mixed martial artist. The former UFC heavyweight champion has also boxed. He pressed Tyson Fury over the course of their 10 round contest and was knocked out in two by Joshua.

"I wouldn't say there's a long list of opponents [for his next fight]. I think most recently Francis Ngannou was talking a lot of smack. He is an easy fight for me," Paul told Sky Sports News.

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Paul is not a natural heavyweight, the bulk of his professional career has been conducted at cruiserweight. But he is undaunted about taking on another big man. "I think he is a terrible boxer," Paul said of Ngannou.

"I'll go back up to heavyweight and knock him out like Joshua did, render him unconscious. He knows I lasted longer than him against Joshua. I didn't get put out."

He wondered though if Ngannou, despite being a seasoned martial artist, would be hesitant to meet him in a boxing bout.

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"He maybe wouldn't do the fight because I think deep down he wouldn't want to get embarrassed," Paul suggested.

"So to me that's a fun one on the list."

He has had to recover from the broken jaw sustained in the stoppage loss to Joshua but Paul will resume his boxing career.

"We will see how the jaw continues to heal up," he said. "I'm definitely going to keep on fighting."

Watch the Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney vs Mayelli Flores bill live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 5.