Francis Ngannou has responded to Jake Paul's callout, telling Sky Sports he believes he can defeat the YouTube star in a potential boxing match. Paul issued the verbal challenge at the press conference announcing Ngannou's May 16 MMA bout against Philipe Lins, promoted by Paul's company MVP. The former UFC heavyweight champion admitted he hadn't previously considered Paul as an opponent.

Ngannou is currently preparing for his return to MMA after suffering a second-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in 2024. Paul is also recovering from his own defeat to Joshua in December, where he sustained a broken jaw in a six-round stoppage loss. Despite their shared opponent, Ngannou expressed respect for Paul's boxing career progression, noting he has followed Paul's journey closely since few believed in him early on.

The Cameroon-born fighter also weighed in on the anticipated Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua showdown, predicting Fury would win if the bout goes to a decision but acknowledging Joshua's knockout potential early in the fight. Ngannou has prior experience with both heavyweights, having dropped Fury in the third round before losing a controversial points decision.