Jake Paul has been targeted for a showdown with a former rival of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury as he prepares to make his return to action.
‘The Problem Child’ has been inactive since he suffered a brutal sixth round stoppage defeat to two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua at the Kaseya Center in Miami back in December.
Paul recently underwent successful surgery after ‘AJ’ broke the American’s jaw in two places after landing a thunderous right hand to close the show on their controversial heavyweight bout on December 19.
The 29-year-old from Cleveland is expected to make his return to the ring before the end of the year however and has been targeted for a potential showdown with former UFC world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who has suffered defeats to both Fury and Joshua during his own boxing career.
Speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, Ngannou admitted that he would be open to facing Paul in the future as he vows to ‘handle’ the former Youtube sensation should their paths cross in the future.
“Well, at first I wasn’t so excited. I wasn’t looking into that, but I think at some point I need to handle him, you know? I think I need to handle him. I think I can kick his ass if I might say so, if I’m allowed to say so.”
Ngannou is yet to step foot back in a boxing ring since he suffered a second round stoppage defeat to Joshua at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia back in March of 2024.
The 39-year-old Cameroonian is in line to make his MMA return this month when he faces Brazil’s Philipe Lins in a five-round bout on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on Saturday May 16.
