TLDR
- Francis Ngannou turned down an offer to replace Gervonta Davis as Jake Paul’s opponent for the cancelled November 14 fight
- Ngannou told TMZ Sports the fight makes no sense for him and called the offer disrespectful
- Jake Paul’s team reached out after Davis’s fight was cancelled due to a domestic violence lawsuit
- The two fighters engaged in a heated social media exchange after Ngannou’s rejection
- Other potential replacement opponents mentioned include Terence Crawford, Ryan Garcia, and Nate Diaz
Francis Ngannou has rejected an offer to fight Jake Paul. The former UFC heavyweight champion told TMZ Sports no amount of money would convince him to take the bout. Ngannou’s name emerged as a potential replacement after Gervonta Davis’s fight was cancelled.
Most Valuable Promotions contacted Ngannou about stepping in for the November 14 event. The promotion is searching for a new opponent after Davis was sued for domestic violence. The lawsuit led to the cancellation of Paul’s scheduled Netflix boxing event in Miami.
Ngannou said MVP’s Nakisa Bidarian reached out about the replacement opportunity. The 39-year-old fighter quickly shut down the idea. He told the promotion not to disrespect him with such an offer.
Ngannou explained the matchup makes no sense for his career. He said it’s not about the money. When asked if a bigger payday would change his mind, Ngannou insisted he simply isn’t interested in the fight.
Choose your words wisely boy. I agree that you need someone to discipline you for what you did to Mike Tyson, but stay in your lane.😤 https://t.co/EpBFWrKMjk
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) November 4, 2025
The switch from Davis to Ngannou would represent a dramatic change in opponents. Davis competes at 135 pounds as a lightweight boxer. Ngannou stands 6’5″ and weighs around 260 pounds as a heavyweight.
Ngannou questioned how the promotion could go from Davis to himself. He acknowledged Davis as a fantastic boxer and knockout artist. However, he pointed out the weight difference makes the matchup illogical.
My lane helped your lane. I spoke up for you over and over again. No more. Look at yourself in the mirror. God don’t like ugly. Maybe the truth is you are a fake holier than thou actor, when it’s always been just about you. Maybe use your platform to speak on the youth of your… https://t.co/opG82hZpBQ
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 4, 2025
Social Media Battle
Paul responded to Ngannou’s rejection on social media. He posted on X telling Ngannou to admit he got humiliated in boxing before. Paul suggested Ngannou is scared to lose to him and called him light work.
Ngannou quickly fired back at Paul’s comments. He told Paul to choose his words wisely. Ngannou said Paul needs someone to discipline him for what he did to Mike Tyson but should stay in his lane.
Paul escalated the exchange by calling Ngannou a con man. He claimed his platform helped Ngannou’s career. Paul said he previously spoke up for Ngannou multiple times but would no longer do so.
Paul accused Ngannou of being a fake actor who only cares about himself. He criticized Ngannou for doing TMZ interviews to talk about him. Paul ended by saying he would beat Ngannou in boxing and that Jon Jones would defeat him in MMA.
The original Paul vs Davis fight faced problems before the cancellation. The bout was initially scheduled for Atlanta but Georgia declined to host it. State officials rejected the fight due to the weight discrepancy between the fighters.
Paul weighed 199.4 pounds for his last fight. Davis fought at 136 pounds in his most recent bout. The 63-pound difference raised safety concerns among athletic commissions.
The fight was moved to Miami after Atlanta rejected it. Florida sanctioned the bout despite the size advantage. The event was set to air live on Netflix before the lawsuit against Davis emerged.
MVP is now searching for a replacement opponent for Paul. Other names mentioned include Terence Crawford, Ryan Garcia, and Nate Diaz. The promotion wants to deliver a Netflix event before the end of 2025.
Paul has also expressed interest in fighting Anthony Joshua in 2026. He told Sky Sports that teams are already talking about making that fight happen. Paul called it a massive risk and challenge.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, previously said Paul needed to fight Davis first. Hearn stated that if Paul lost to Davis, a fight with Joshua would be ridiculous. With Davis now out, negotiations for Joshua could potentially move forward.
MVP confirmed Paul will still headline a Netflix event this year. The promotion is working to finalize details about a new opponent, date, and location. They are committed to delivering the promised event despite the Davis cancellation.
Ngannou remains focused on other opportunities in his combat sports career. He made clear the Paul fight doesn’t fit his current plans. The former UFC champion sees no benefit in taking the matchup at this stage.