- Ngannou considers retirement after son's loss
- Ngannou's upcoming fight marks his return
- He said the fight is the best way to honor his son's memory
Francis Ngannou has revealed that he considered retirement following the tragic loss of his son earlier this year but ultimately decided to continue fighting as a tribute to him.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who will make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19th, shared the heartbreaking news of his 15-month-old son Kobe’s passing on social media in April.
Ngannou’s upcoming fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia marks his return to mixed martial arts and his first bout since a defeat to Anthony Joshua in March.
Speaking at a press conference, Ngannou explained that fighting has become a new purpose for him.
He questioned whether he should continue his career but ultimately chose to honor his son’s memory by persevering.
“I decided to make a positive out of his 15 months of living,” Ngannou said. “To find the strength out of him, as a motivation, to keep going instead of to quit.”
The Cameroonian fighter believes that continuing to fight is the best way to honor his son’s memory and carry on his legacy.
