Jake Paul will be “eager” for a fight with Francis Ngannou or a rematch with Tommy Fury if the boxer successfully returns from a broken jaw, his business partner Nakisa Bidarian has said. Sky Sports.
Paul previously told Ariel Helwani that his boxing career was “most definitely” in doubt as a result of his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua that left him fitted with two titanium plates and having several teeth removed, but he made headlines again just two days later when he offered Canelo Alvarez $200 million to fight him.
A showdown with a hard puncher like Ngannou could have been seen as a health risk considering the American’s injuries, but Bidarian insists that’s not the case from Paul’s perspective.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) Co-Founder Nakisa Bidarian
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Paul sparked a heated exchange with Ngannou during the Rousey vs. Carano press conference. Credit: Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix
“Jake thinks Ngannou is very strong, but very slow, flat-footed and not very mobile,” Vidarian said. Sky Sports. “Jake is crazy about that fight. Jake is crazy about the Tommy Fury rematch. Jake is trying to become cruiserweight champion.
“Jake also wants to think about other names that we’ve discussed but I won’t mention. Obviously Canelo is there, but other names as well. I don’t know. I don’t think that rules Francis out at all.”
“It’s a fight I want to take, but again, I’m in the business of supporting fighters. If that’s what Jake really wants and that’s what Francis wants, we’ll do our best to make it happen.
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Paul answers the 15 questions you’ve always wanted to ask a professional boxer in Boxing Unpacked.
“I’ve always said: No matter how your jaw heals, it’s all about starting sparring and seeing how your jaw reacts to impact.
“We’ll see when he gets back to sparring and gets flush striking.
“The plan is for him to be back later in the year, late November to mid-December. That’s our focus. That’s what our team is building on.”
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Paul told Sky Sports that he is considering a fight against Ngannou in his comeback fight after losing to Anthony Joshua.
Despite the war of words between Paul and Ngannou, Bidarian revealed that a rematch with Tommy Fury is still very much a possibility.
“Tommy Fury is going to fight in a spectacle exhibition in a couple of weeks. I think it’s six rounds of two minutes. It’s interesting. It’s a big guy versus a medium-sized guy. We’ll see what happens,” he said.
“If they’re realistic about what the chances are, 100% it’s the easiest fight and the logical fight for both of them.”
Vidarian: My priority is to make Ngannou vs Verhoeven.
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Andy Scott, along with Hamzah Sheeraz and Tony Sims, had a lot to say about Oleksandr Usyk’s stoppage win over Rico Verhoeven.
In the promotion’s most valuable debut MMA event last week, Ronda Rousey submitted Gina Carano in just 15 seconds as 17 million people around the world watched the fight. But while Paul is focused on returning from injury, Bidarian’s eyes are already on another huge potential cage fight.
“We have been clear since Saturday – as Jake has been – that we want to make Francis (Ngannou) versus Rico (Verhoeven). “We are in the early stages of starting those discussions.
“Obviously, we were tired of these discussions before MVP MMA, because there was a scenario where Francis and Rico would fight as part of MVP MMA One, but that’s our wish.”
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Usyk survived a stunning performance from kickboxing legend Verhoeven as the fight was stopped with just seconds left in the 11th round. Featuring highlights from DAZN and Ring Magazine
Verhoeven almost shocked the boxing world with his incredible performance in his epic win over Oleksandr Usyk, with the fight controversially stopped seconds before the bell rang for the 11th round. Bidarian disagreed with this decision.
“I think (Rico) surprised everyone and showed that there is real skill in boxing, even in other martial arts disciplines,” he said.
“And I wish they had gone to the 12th round. You know, there are other arguments. Well, it would have been the same result. The referee would have saved him from more damage. But considering how good he was at that level up to that point… they should have sent him to the 12th round.
“(The referee) can hold (Verhoven’s trainer) Peter Fury accountable.
“If you think Rico shouldn’t go in the 12th round, let his coach make that decision for his corner. It’s not something you make arbitrarily in the heat of the moment.”
Watch the WBA and WBO featherweight title clash between Amanda Serrano and Cheyenne Hanson and the WBA lightweight title clash between Stephanie Hahn and Holly Holm live on Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Sunday from MVP Boxing in El Paso.
