A Born Fighter: Why Francis Ngannou is the underdog leading the pack

From the escaping the grasp of poverty to headlining title bouts around the world, Francis Ngannou's journey is one of triumph against all odds. The 37-year-old Cameroonian athlete has lived many lives, of which there are several iterations the average person could never comprehend.

With a life story that is nothing short of remarkable, it is evident that Ngannou embodies resilience, determination, a relentless pursuit of greatness and the foresight of becoming a world champion sportsman.

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Born in Batie, Cameroon, Ngannou spent his formative years working in local sand mines to support his single mother and four siblings. At the age of 26, he embarked on the perilous journey by dinghy boat to mainland Europe in pursuit of his dreams.

A story that resonates deeply with many, this treacherous journey remains a well-documented news story across Europe, even in 2024, as thousands of immigrants continue to make this journey, seeking the promise or at the least, the opportunity of a better life and more prosperous future.

From being detained as an illegal immigrant in Spain to living on the streets of Paris, Ngannou has faced countless obstacles - but maintains a relentlessly positive outlook on life. Ngannou's journey from poverty to prosperity serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to pursue their dreams, and to fight against all odds.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Ngannou said: 'That’s the only way that you can really claim to be alive, you know, living by your own dream and by your own rules, don’t let people’s opinions trip you over in life or take you away from your dreams. So whatever you have going on, own your own life, own your dreams, dreams are free..."

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The Cameroonian's invincible spirit and obvious talent led him to discover the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), where he rose to become the UFC heavyweight champion, a title he still retains.

More recently, Ngannou has donned gloves and entered the boxing arena. Taking on perhaps two of the biggest names in the modern history of the sport — Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua — in his first foray into boxing, it is evident that Ngannou's natural fighter and champion spirit remains regardless of the sport.

Despite narrowly missing out on a win over Tyson Fury after a split decision by judges at Riyadh Season's Battle of the Baddest showdown in October, it was widely acknowledged that Ngannou held up a good fight, landing significant swings that rocked Fury, and the much-anticipated showdown lasted the entire ten rounds.

With a Trojan work ethic, a dedication to learn and train, and with Mike Tyson, the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, literally in his corner as part of his coaching team, Ngannou is bound to eventually succeed.

"I’m a world champion, maybe not in boxing, but I’m a world champion in my life," he told the Telegraph.

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On February 29, a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation of both sportsmen ahead of the head-to-head bout was released in the form of a Netflix documentary with the same title as the head-to-head bout, Battle of the Baddest.

The documentary depicted the physicality, effort, endurance, and relentlessness required in preparing for the October 2023 fight. It was here we saw Mike Tyson host and train Ngannou on-site in Riyadh, in his brand-new, exclusive training facilities, the Mike Tyson Academy.

The hour-long documentary also highlighted the strategic reality of modern-day boxing and combat sports, while not overlooking the mental strength and acumen needed to face such a high-profile showdown.

Following Francis Ngannou's impressive performance against Fury, he secured another high-stakes bout against former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua. The showdown is set to take place in Riyadh on March 8th, and has been dubbed Knock Out Chaos.

Will this be underdog Francs Ngannou's first championship boxing title, or will boxing great Anthony Joshua maintain his status in ring?

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Knock Out Chaos: Francis Ngannou v. Anthony Joshua
From 5pm, March 8 2024
Kingdom Arena, Riyadh
@riyadhseason @turkialalshik

@francisngannou @anthonyjoshua