Ngannou’s 15-Month-Old Son Passes Away
Francis Ngannou, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, has confirmed the death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe.
It is devastating news for the fighter who has overcome so much. Ngannou grew up in Batie, Cameroon, living in poverty. His parents divorced when he was just 6, leaving him to live with his auntie. Four years later, Ngannou started working in the sand quarries due to a lack of money. He turned down several chances to join gangs in his village as he focused on becoming a fighter.
In his twenties, Ngannou moved to Europe to pursue MMA. He reached the pinnacle of the sport, beating Stipe Miocic via knockout to win the UFC Heavyweight Title at UFC 260 in 2021. He defended the belt a year later, beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. Ngannou then left the UFC and signed a deal with the PFL. He has not made his MMA debut; instead, he boxed twice against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou lost a controversial split decision against Fury, with some believing he had been robbed.
Meanwhile, Joshua stopped him in the second round. However, he won a bigger fanbase with those performances, justifying his decision to leave the UFC. However, the latest news is a major setback, with clear questions over whether Ngannou will fight anytime soon.
Ngannou Reacts
“Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he’s laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he’s not responding. I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most. How do you deal with such a thing? How can you live with it? Please help me if you have an idea because I really don’t know what to do and how to deal with this,” Ngannou said
“It’s been a heavy few days, words can’t express the pain we all feel for the Ngannou family during this time. Please keep Francis and his family in your heart, and may this be a reminder of the fragility of life. Say “I love you,” more often, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed,” Ngannou’s coach Eric Nicksick
Ngannou is currently 37 years old. The fight with Fury reportedly earned him $10 million, while the Joshua bout secured him $20 million. That is enough to set up his future for the rest of his life if the fighter invests his wealth wisely. He has also set up a brand that can sustain itself outside of fighting. Ngannou has over 7 million followers on Instagram, giving him enough chances for endorsement deals to sustain him for the rest of his career. Given the setback that he has suffered, will he ever be the same? Is there the motivation to continue fighting? These questions will have to be addressed, but for now, we wish the fighter well during this tough period.
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