Like millions of others, I’ve watched Francis N’gannou’s incredible story unfold. The soft-spoken strong man from Cameroon, now risen from among the poorest of villages to the heights of sports celebrity is a compelling example of success.
Burdened yet emboldened by back-breaking hard labor and low wages eked from Africa’s dehumanizing mine fields, N’gannou’s fierce determination to succeed and to escape poverty mirrors the raw passion of the fictious Hollywood movie boxing character from Philadelphia known worldwide as Rocky. In fact, N’gannou’s story as a refugee having been captured six times in failed consecutive efforts to escape on foot to Europe via the Sahara desert is a survival story fit for the big silver screen.
Eventually making safe harbor to France in a cramped rickety sea vessel with fellow refugees, N’gannou was seized, imprisoned in Paris, and deported home to Africa. Not long afterwards, walking and hitchhiking across the desert again, he managed another safe passage to France, where he slept in parks, on the Metro, and in the “City of Light’s” most obscure and unseemly quarters until eventually he was directed to a local gym where, upon discovering mixed Marshall Arts, he saw a path to success.
Francis N’gannou’s incredible work ethic and extraordinary physical strength and agility enabled his accelerated rise as a powerful contender among heavyweights within MMA. After amassing a string of victories, his name was seen on marquis where crazed fans, eager to see who would be crowned king of the MMA world, thirsted to see the next King of the Octogon.
N’gannou today remains among the top tier heavyweight contenders in MMA. Last year he boldly decided to switch to boxing, a physical contact sport that requires a different kind of skill-set, ring smarts, and strategy. He enlisted none other than Mike Tyson, arguably among the top10 greatest heavyweight champions of all time, as his personal trainer.
Last month N’gannou lost in a split-decision to Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury. Many fight observers and fans believe N’gannou won the fight hands-down. He knocked the bigger brawler down in the third round, but Fury managed to hold on to the end. For N’gannou and team it was nonetheless a moral victory and popular public opinion has by de facto consensus crowned him the winner and Champion, even though the mild-mannered Cameroonian makes no argument about the judges’ decision.
What remains next is the question: Will the African farmer, miner, refugee, warrior become the “baddest man on the planet” by winning two titles someday – in Mixed Marshall Arts and the crazy world of Heavyweight boxing? Dare not count Francis N’gannou out. He’s all Championship material, every pound for pound.
D.Day Media. 11.10.23