Ngannou or MMA? Paul targets boxing return this year
"I think his focus is on cruiserweight, outside of a potential boxing match against Francis Ngannou," Bidarian told BBC Sport. Cameroon's Ngannou is set to fight Brazil's Philipe Lins on the undercard of Ronda Rousey's mixed martial arts comeback fight against Gina Carano on 16 May - an event which is promoted by MVP. Paul has targeted former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou because of the 39-year-old's boxing resume, which includes defeats against Tyson Fury in 2023 and Joshua in 2024.
At a news conference to promote the card in Los Angeles in March, Paul goaded Ngannou by saying he ran away from him "like a duck". Ngannou responded with: "I really didn't want to fight you, but now I want to beat you. " Chimaev kicks Strickland despite armed police presence 'Like getting the vicar to swear' - Dubois finding his voice Paul beat Nate Diaz in their boxing match on points in 2023 Paul had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed during surgery after the Joshua bout where he suffered the second defeat of his career.
Bidarian says Paul has recently returned to the gym. "I saw pictures of him back in the gym with his boxing coach yesterday. So take that for what you will," said Bidarian.
Bidarian added that the winner of Nate Diaz's fight with Mike Perry on the Rousey-Carano undercard would be a "great MMA match-up" for Paul in the future. Paul beat American former UFC star Diaz in a boxing bout in 2023, but both fighters have called for a rematch in MMA. Paul also has a boxing victory over Perry in 2024.
"I know Jake has talked up Nate a little bit, and Nate's obviously mentioned it, but there's no guarantee that Nate's gonna beat Mike Perry," said Bidarian. "I think the winner of that fight is a great MMA match-up for Jake Paul, if he wants to do MMA, which he's always consistently said he does. "I think he'll need a concerted six to eight months of MMA training.