Jake Paul: MVP boxer ‘interested’ in Francis Ngannou fight or Tommy Fury rematch after successful return from broken jaw | Boxing news

Jake Paul would be “interested” in a fight with Francis Ngannou or a rematch with Tommy Fury if the boxer makes a successful comeback from a broken jaw, his business partner Nakisa Bidarian said. Sky Sports.

Paul previously told Ariel Helwani that his boxing career was “definitely” in doubt after a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua left him with two titanium plates fitted and multiple teeth removed, but he made headlines again just two days later when he offered Canelo Alvarez $200 million to fight him.

A match-up with a hard puncher like Ngannou could be seen as a health risk given the American’s injuries – but Bidarian insists that, from Paul’s perspective, that’s not the case.

“I think Jacques Ngannou is very strong, but very slow and flat-footed and doesn’t move well,” Bidarian said. Sky Sports. “Jack is excited for that fight. Jack is excited for the Tommy Fury rematch. Jack is excited to try to become the cruiserweight champion.

“Jake is also interested in thinking about other names that we’ve discussed that I won’t mention. Obviously, Canelo is there, but there are other names. I don’t know. I don’t think that rules out Francis at all.

“It’s a fight I want to do, but again, I’m in the business of supporting fighters. If Jake really wants to do it and Francis wants to do it, we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.

“I’ve always said the following – no matter how the jaw heals, it’s all about going to the fray and seeing how it affects.

“Once he gets back into contention, once he hits flush, then we’ll see.

“The plan is to be back later in the year, in the late November to mid-December time frame. That’s our focus. That’s what our team is building around.”

Despite the war of words between Paul and Ngannou, Bidarian also revealed that a rematch with Tommy Fury is still a significant possibility.

“Tommy Fury fights in a couple of weeks in a spectacular show. I think it’s six two-minute rounds. It’s interesting, big man versus middle-sized man, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

“If they’re realistic about the opportunity, 100 percent, it’s the easiest fight to make, and it’s the logical fight to make for both guys.”

Bidarian: My priority is to do Ngannou vs. Verhoeven

The most valuable promotion’s first MMA event last week saw Ronda Rousey submit Gina Carano after just 15 seconds in a bout clocking in at 17 million worldwide – but Bidarian’s spectacle, while Paul focuses on returning from injury, is already set for another big potential cage fight.

“We’ve been pretty clear since Saturday – Jack – that we want to do Francis (Nganou) versus Rico (Verhoeven). We’re in the early stages of those discussions.

“Obviously these talks were ad nauseam before MVP MMA, because there was a scene where it was Francis vs. Rico as part of MVP MMA One, but that’s our wish.”

Verhoeven nearly stunned 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) surprised everybody and showed that boxing has real skill in other martial arts disciplines,” 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 these stakes, how well he’s done up to that point … you have to let him go to the 12th round.

“(The referee) can give the responsibility to (Verhoeven’s coach) Peter Fury.

“If he thinks Rico shouldn’t make it to the 12th round, let his coach, his corner make that decision. Not you, arbitrarily, in the heat of the moment.”

Watch Amanda Serrano vs Cheyenne Hanson and Stephanie Hahn vs Holly Holm fight for the WBA and WBO featherweight titles at MVP Boxing from El Paso, live on Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Sunday.