The fighting future of Francis Ngannou remains uncertain following the tragic death of his young son earlier this month.
On May 1, the 37-year-old Ngannou posted on social media: “My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he’s laying without life… Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone.
“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?”
In just two professional boxing fights within five months, the former UFC heavyweight champion has left his mark on boxing, pushing Tyson Fury all the way – and flooring the Gypsy King – in his debut, and then getting stopped by Anthony Joshua in two rounds in February.
The Las Vegas-based Cameroonian, however, will understandably take time to consider what he wants to do moving forwards as he comes to terms with his tragic loss.
“We will see. As you know he’s had a tragic, tragic situation with the passing of his 18-month-old son only a month ago, so right now we’re not even thinking about fighting at all,” said his coach Dewey Cooper. “My heart and spirit still goes out to him. He’s in the healing process of the most tragic thing that can happen to a parent. There is nothing in this world, and I mean nothing in this entire world that is more tragic that your kid passing away. You know the natural order of things. We’re supposed to go before our kids so when something devastating like this happens, I’m not sure that I could bounce back from something this traumatic.
“He’s taking it day by day. I haven’t even thought about a fight or what he’s going to do as far as fighting. My heart is just with him. I just wish him healing and somehow to be able to live with this. It’s bad. And it’s very sad.
“He’s lost his son Kobe and we will see what happens in the future.”
Cooper, who is a trainer for the Team Combat League, is also working with Mike Tyson ahead of the heavyweight icon’s upcoming event with Jake Paul. But Cooper has remained in touch with Ngannou through the last few weeks.
“We talk,” Cooper added. “I would like to see him do whatever his heart desires. He’s had a long, hard road to get to his mixed martial arts career, he’s had two good boxing fights. What Francis has done is so unprecedented. His first fight ever in boxing, to fight the lineal champion, and I told everyone how it was gonna go, and then he fought Anthony Joshua after that, so he fought two of the top three best heavyweights of the era in his first two fights.
“Whatever he wants to do, of course we support. If it were totally up to me, of course I’d like to see him box again. He has the ability and talent to do it. The Joshua fight didn’t go our way, it just wasn’t our night that night, but you guys have seen the ability he has against Fury and there’s several heavyweights he could beat out there, for sure.”
The heavyweight division has been front and center since Oleksandr Usyk became the undisputed champion against Fury last weekend. Usyk has petitioned the IBF to hold onto that title, ahead of the clash between Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois, which many felt might be for the vacant belt.
“Before Francis fought Joshua I was really rooting for Fury [to beat Usyk] because I felt we were going to beat Joshua and we wanted that rematch with Fury, for all the marbles,’ said Cooper. “But after we got defeated by Anthony Joshua, I knew Usyk was going to win the fight. It was wishful thinking, hoping Fury could win, but I knew Usyk would be able to win the fight.
“The thing about cruiserweights, they fight at a faster pace. If you’re a cruiserweight who can take the power of a heavyweight, you have the advantage. You’re slightly faster, you’re more mobile, your gas tank is better and most of the time your skillsets are better. Usyk showed those things. He had a little bit of trouble early, but that pace is hard to keep up with. He’s so sharp with his boxing and the pace and the skills of Usyk started to shine through. I knew Usyk would win the fight. I didn’t know if he’d be able to stop Fury, but I thought he would win a close decision like it happened.”
BoxingScene sends Francis Ngannou our condolences and best wishes.
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