Jake Paul: MVP boxer ‘eager’ for Francis Ngannou fight or Tommy Fury rematch after successful comeback from broken jaw | Debate News
Jake Paul will look forward to a fight with Francis Ngannou or a rematch with Tommy Fury if the boxer comes back from a broken jaw, says his business partner Nakisa Bidarian. Sky Sports.
Paul had previously told Ariel Helwani that his boxing career was “no longer in doubt” after he had to have two titanium plates fitted and several teeth extracted for his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, but he made headlines again two days later when he offered Canelo Alvarez $200m to fight him.
Keeping up with a tough puncher like Ngannou might seem life-threatening given the American’s injuries – but Bidarian insists that, in Paul’s opinion, this is not the case.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Paul drew a heated response from Ngannou when they traded words at the Rousey vs Carano press conference Credit: Most Important Promotions and Netflix
“I think Jake considers Ngannou to be very strong, but very slow and flat-footed and doesn’t move very well,” Bidarian said. Sky Sports. “Jake is looking forward to that fight. Jake wants the Tommy Fury rematch. Jake is serious about trying to become the cruiserweight champion.
“Jake is determined to think of other names that we talked about that I won’t say. It’s obvious that Canelo is there, but there are other names. I don’t know. I don’t think that does Francis at all.
“It’s a fight I want to do, but then again, I’m in the business of supporting fighters. If that’s what Jake really wants to do and that’s what Francis wants to do, we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Paul answers 15 questions you’ve always wanted to ask a professional boxer on Boxing Unpacked
“I always say the following – no matter how the jaw heals, it’s all about getting into sparring and seeing how it affects the impact.
“If he gets back to sparring, if he gets flushed, we’ll see.
“The plan is for him to come back at the end of the year, late November to mid-December. That’s what we’re focusing on. That’s what our team is building on.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Paul told Sky Sports that he is eyeing a fight with Ngannou in his comeback fight after losing to Anthony Joshua.
Apart from the war of words between Paul and Ngannou, Bidarian also revealed that it is still possible for them to meet Tommy Fury again.
“Tommy Fury’s fight on the show in a couple of weeks. I think it’s six two-minute rounds. It’s interesting, a big man against a middle man, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
“If they’re honest about what the opportunity is, 100 percent, that’s an easy fight to make, and a reasonable fight to make for both guys.”
Bidarian: My priority is to do Ngannou vs Verhoeven
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Andy Scott is joined by Hamzah Sheeraz and Tony Sims as they discuss Oleksandr Usyk’s much talked about victory over Rico Verhoeven.
Most Valuable Promotions debut MMA event last week saw Ronda Rousey submit Gina Carano with just 15 seconds on the clock for the bout for 17 million worldwide – but the things Bidarian sees, while Paul is focused on his return from injury, is already set for another big cage fight.
“We’ve been very clear since Saturday – Jake has it – that we’d like to do Francis [Ngannou] against Rico [Verhoeven]. We are in the early stages of having those discussions.
“Obviously those conversations had ad nauseum before the MVP of MMA, because there was a situation where it was Francis against Rico as part of MVP MMA One, but that is our desire.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Usyk survived a stunning performance by kickboxing legend Verhoeven as the fight was decided with seconds left in the 11th round. Highlights courtesy of DAZN and Ring Magazine
Verhoeven almost shocked the boxing world with an epic performance against Oleksandr Usyk before the fight was controversially stopped seconds before the 11th round bell – a decision Bidarian disagreed with.
“I think [Rico] he surprised everyone and showed that there is real skill in boxing and other disciplines of karate,” he said.
“And I wish they would have let it go to the 12th round. You know, there are different arguments, well, it would have been the same result – the referee could have saved him from more damage – but, at that level with those stakes, given how well he’s done up to that point … you should have let him go to the 12th round.
“[The referee] can impose an onus [Verhoeven’s trainer] Peter Fury.
“If he feels that Rico shouldn’t go out in the 12th round, his trainer, let his corner make that decision. Not you, automatically, in the heat of the moment.”
Watch Amanda Serrano vs Cheyenne Hanson for the WBA and WBO featherweight titles and Stephanie Han vs Holly Holm for the WBA lightweight title at MVP Boxing from El Paso, live on Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Sunday.
