Francis Ngannou’s fighting career is uncertain after his son’s death this month. Ngannou, 37, wrote on social media on May 1: “My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he lies lifeless. Too early to depart, but he did.
“I was my best self next to him, and now I don’t know myself. Life unfairly hits us where it hurts most.
“How do you handle that? How can you cope?
The former UFC heavyweight champion pushed Tyson Fury all the way and floored the Gypsy King in his debut, but Anthony Joshua stopped him in two rounds in February.
However, the Las Vegas-based Cameroonian will need time to decide what to do after his devastating loss.
We’ll see. He lost his 18-month-old son a month ago, so we’re not even thinking about fighting, said his coach, Dewey Cooper. “My heart and soul go out to him. He’s recovering from a parent’s worst tragedy. Your child’s death is the saddest thing in the world. You understand nature. We’re supposed to leave before our kids, so I’m not sure I could recover from this.
“He takes it day by day. I haven’t considered fighting or what he’ll do. My heart is with him. I wish him healing and the ability to cope. It isn’t good. Very sad.
“He lost his son Kobe, and we will see what happens.”
Cooper, a Team Combat League trainer, trains Mike Tyson before his fight with Jake Paul. Cooper has kept in touch with Ngannou in recent weeks.
“We talk,” Cooper said. “I want him to do what he wants. Two intense boxing matches preceded his MMA career, which was a long path. Francis’s actions are unparalleled. In his first two boxing battles, he fought the lineal champion and Anthony Joshua, two of the top three heavyweights of the era. I warned everyone how it would go.
We support everything he does. If I could, I’d like to see him box again. His skills allow him to do it. We lost the Joshua fight because it wasn’t our night, but you’ve seen him beat Fury and there are several heavyweights he could beat.”
Since Usyk defeated Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion last Saturday, the division has been the focus. Usyk asked the IBF to keep the title before Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois’ fight, which many thoughts may be for it.
“Before Francis fought Joshua I was really rooting for Fury [to beat Usyk] because I thought we would beat Joshua and we wanted that rematch with Fury for all the marbles,” Cooper added. “After we lost to Anthony Joshua, I knew Usyk would win. I wanted Fury to win, but I knew Usyk would.
Cruiserweights battle faster. Cruiserweights who can handle heavyweight power have an advantage. You’re faster, more mobile, have a better gas tank and usually have better talents. Usyk showed these. Early on, he struggled, but such a pace takes a lot of work to maintain. His boxing is sharp, and Usyk’s speed and talents showed. Usyk would win the battle. I didn’t think he could stop Fury, but I thought he’d win a close fight like it.”
