Cameroonian professional mixed martial artist and boxer, Francis Ngannou, has revealed that he contemplated retirement following the heartbreaking death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, who passed away earlier this year in April. In a recent interview, Ngannou shared that fighting on is his way of keeping his son’s memory alive. “It’s the best way of honoring him,” he said.
Ngannou is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring on October 19, 2024, when he faces Brazilian heavyweight Renan Ferreira in what has been dubbed the ‘Battle of the Giants.’ This match will be Francis Ngannou’s first fight since his son’s passing and his return to mixed martial arts after a stint in professional boxing.
Speaking at a press conference to promote his PFL heavyweight debut, Ngannou said, “It’s become a new purpose for me. I decided to make a positive out of his 15 months of living. To find the strength out of him, as a motivation, to keep going instead of quitting. I think this is the best way of honoring him.”
The 37-year-old fighter’s bout against Ferreira in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marks his return to MMA and comes after his loss to British boxer Anthony Joshua earlier this year. Reflecting on his decision to continue fighting, Ngannou added, “Fighting for me is a lifestyle. I questioned myself if I should continue or retire, but I didn’t want my son to be the reason for me to do that.”
During the press conference, Ngannou and Ferreira faced off in a tense moment, both sporting sunglasses as they flanked YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who acted as the event’s host. The two exchanged some light-hearted banter, with Ngannou telling Ferreira, “You’re going to face a real champion now,” which drew laughter from the crowd before they engaged in a brief staredown.
Their showdown is billed as the ‘Battle of the Giants,’ with the winner receiving the PFL’s newly established “super-fights championship belt.”
The co-main event will feature a clash between long-time Bellator featherweight titleholder Cris Cyborg and PFL’s two-weight champion Larissa Pacheco, adding further star power to the night.
The event in Saudi Arabia continues a trend of high-profile sporting events in the Kingdom, which have attracted global attention but also criticism for what many see as an attempt to divert attention from the country’s human rights record – a strategy commonly referred to as “sportswashing.”
Ngannou’s return to MMA and future plans
Ngannou boasts an impressive record of 17 wins from 20 MMA fights, with 12 of those victories coming by knockout. However, he has not competed in MMA since defending his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He was later stripped of the title after a contract dispute and subsequently signed with the PFL, where he has yet to make his debut.
After shifting his focus to boxing, Ngannou faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in two high-profile bouts but expressed that his return to MMA was always in the cards. “It was always the plan to come back to MMA after the Joshua fight,” Francis Ngannou stated. However, he hasn’t completely closed the door on more boxing matches. “I’m still looking for boxing matches. I don’t have one yet, but I think I have a few left in me. Right now, I’m focusing on [Ferreira]. I don’t know what’s next, but I’ll get this one first and see the possibilities.”
Ferreira, who won the PFL’s 2023 heavyweight tournament and recently defeated Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, is a formidable opponent. With 13 wins from 19 fights, including 11 knockouts, Ferreira paid his respects to Ngannou but confidently predicted his own success. “It’s a great honor to be here. I’m ecstatic with this opportunity, and it’s an honor to face somebody like Francis Ngannou,” said Ferreira.
“Francis has had a tough year in his life, but the toughest challenge in his life and in his year is going to be me right here. He has a big problem in front of him. I can wrestle him, knock him out, take him down to the ground, and submit him.”
