Jake Paul is targeting a return to boxing before the end of the year, and francis ngannou remains in the mix as a possible opponent. The 29-year-old has not fought since Anthony Joshua knocked him out in the sixth round in December, a loss that ended his place in the WBA's cruiserweight rankings.
Bidarian Maps Paul’s Route
Nakisa Bidarian said Paul’s immediate focus is cruiserweight, apart from any boxing match with Ngannou. He also said the goal is to get back before year-end, while adding that Paul has recently returned to the gym after surgery following the Joshua bout.
Paul’s return plan carries some urgency because he is trying to re-establish himself at a weight class where he had already been ranked before the Joshua loss. He has won 12 of his 14 fights as a professional boxer, and his last boxing win came against Nate Diaz on points in 2023.
Ngannou’s Heavyweight Path
Ngannou brings his own schedule into the picture. The 39-year-old is set to fight Philipe Lins on 16 May on the undercard of Ronda Rousey’s mixed martial arts comeback fight against Gina Carano, so any meeting with Paul would come after that appearance.
Paul has targeted Ngannou in part because the former UFC heavyweight champion lost boxing matches against Tyson Fury in 2023 and Joshua in 2024. At a March news conference in Los Angeles, Paul said Ngannou ran away from him “like a duck,” and Ngannou answered in the same city, “I really didn't want to fight you, but now I want to beat you.”
Paul’s Next Move
That leaves Paul with two clear tracks: a cruiserweight comeback before year-end, or a crossover heavyweight fight that would lean on Ngannou’s recent boxing record. The surgery details also matter for the timeline, since Paul had two titanium plates fitted and two teeth removed after the Joshua bout, and his return to the gym is the first sign that a comeback is moving again.
