Ngannou: From sand quarry in Batie to world’s biggest stage
Francis Ngannou’s fight against Tyson Fury on October 28, is a “dream come true” for the Cameroonian, whose journey from childhood has been one of “frustration” in different forms.
“I always feel like I missed my childhood, because it’s been too much frustration in my life” he said while on a visit to Cameroon. Ngannou worked in the sand mines of his village Batie in the West region, from 10 years old.
“We had to work to contribute at home to buy food, to buy oil, and also for our school fees for books. That’s how I started even though that work was meant for adults but we didn’t have any option.”
Ngannou started a career in boxing aged 22, and moved to France at 26 years old. He faced difficulties as an illegal immigrant, and lived on the streets of Paris before joining the MMA factory where he was allowed to train and sleep at the gym at no cost.
With an MMA career started, he joined the UFC in 2015. He made remarkable progress and eventually won his first heavyweight title in March 2021 against Stipe Miocic. He defended the title against Ciryl Gane in January 2022, but was stripped of the championship belt after falling out with the organization in January 2023.
He left the UFC with 17 wins, and three defeats. Five months later, he was announced at the Professional Fighters League (PFL), in a more lucrative deal which placed him in the pay-per-view division.
The Riyadh event on Saturday against Tyson Fury, fullfils one of the foremost requests he made while at the UFC. The fight has been described as one of the most anticipated in boxing history.
