Francis Ngannou responds after bizarre Jake Paul callout to replace Gervonta Davis in cancelled fight

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has firmly declined an opportunity to step in as a replacement opponent for Jake Paul's cancelled bout with Gervonta Davis.

The Cameroonian fighter labelled the proposal as disrespectful when Paul's representatives contacted him about filling the vacancy.

Despite being presented with substantial financial incentives, Ngannou remained unmoved by the offer.

"It's not about the number," he told TMZ Sports, emphasising that monetary considerations weren't driving his decision.

The approach came after Davis withdrew from the planned November clash following domestic violence allegations.

Paul's team subsequently reached out to several potential replacements, including Ngannou, but the former UFC champion saw no professional merit in accepting the bout.

The initial contact came through Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, who reached out to discuss finding a substitute for Davis.

Ngannou recounted his bewilderment during the conversation, initially failing to grasp why he was being approached.

"I said, 'OK, what can I do for you? What exactly?'" Ngannou explained to TMZ Sports.

When Bidarian clarified they were considering him to face Jake Paul, the heavyweight's confusion deepened. "I was like, 'What? Who's Jake?' I was so confused. I wasn't expecting that at all."

Even after realising they meant Jake Paul, Ngannou's response was immediate and unequivocal. "I'm like, 'No bro, come on. Don't disrespect me like that,'" he stated.

Ngannou articulated why the matchup lacked any logical foundation, highlighting the stark contrast between himself and Davis.

"How can they go from Gervonta Davis to Francis Ngannou?" he questioned during his TMZ Sports interview. "Gervonta Davis is a fantastic boxer and is a one-shot knockout artist, but come on."

The 39-year-old emphasised that whilst size disparities might balance out in a Davis-Paul contest, the same logic couldn't apply to him. "We're way different. It makes no sense," he stated.

When pressed about whether attractive financial terms might change his stance, Ngannou remained resolute. "If it was about the number, I would tell you. I'm just not interested. He's not what I'm looking at right now."

Paul has since taken to social media to respond to Ngannou's rejection, attempting to provoke the heavyweight into reconsidering.

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The YouTuber-turned-boxer called Ngannou "scared" on X, formerly Twitter, and claimed the former UFC champion would be "light work" for him.

The inflammatory comments appear designed to goad Ngannou into accepting the bout through public pressure.

However, given the Cameroonian's emphatic dismissal of the proposal and his assertion that the fight "makes no sense" professionally, Paul's taunting seems unlikely to alter his position.

The search continues for Paul's next opponent, with the rescheduled bout now potentially targeting December dates on Netflix.