“Call Him American Boy”: Francis Ngannou’s Mother Details the Predator’s Obsession With Childhood Hero Mike Tyson

It is not every day that we come across stories of unbreakable resolve in the face of life-threatening challenges. Beginning as a security guard in Paris, Francis Ngannou rose to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion. He demonstrated not just extraordinary strength, but also unwavering determination. In a few days, the 37-year-old fighter is set to make his boxing debut in a 10-round match against WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Fury, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, presents a formidable challenge with an impressive record of 33 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw. Mike Tyson has assumed a crucial role in Francis Ngannou’s corner for the upcoming fight against the ‘Gypsy King’. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences of transforming childhood fears and pain into fighting strength, Tyson has joined Ngannou’s corner as his coach. ‘Iron’ Mike has been an inspiration in Ngannou’s life since childhood. Ngannou’s mother details his shenanigans as a little boy.

Francis Ngannou’s mother found his activities peculiar

Ngannou saw Mike Tyson for the time on YouTube in an internet cafe. He would relay boxing movies despite refusal from his family. Not only this, Ngannou used to obsess over his current trainer. Such was his interest that he even asked his brothers to call him “American Boy.”

Ngannou’s mother revealed, “He always saw (boxing movies) and he always talked about Mike Tyson. And at one point he told his brothers to always call him American Boy. When his little sister called him American Boy, I asked her American Boy who? She tells me Francis asked her to call him American Boy. I said Honey, please dont call him that ever again.” His mother found it quite peculiar that a young Francis had asked his siblings to call him an American boy and barred them from doing so.

Francis Ngannou’s journey from the quarry to the boxing ring

At just 9 years old, Francis Ngannou began working in a quarry, unable to afford school supplies or even a decent meal. He had never seen a picture of his current trainer, the legendary Mike Tyson. During his desperate times in Africa, he sifted through trash for food, fought rats, and steered clear of local gangs, drawing strength from his father’s street-fighting legacy.

Read More: Mike Tyson Claims He Is Not a Trainer, He Is a Coach to Francis Ngannou: What Does This Mean?

Despite family objections, he chose boxing over negative influences and started training at 22. Illness stalled his progress, but at 26, he left Cameroon for Spain. Despite facing immigration detention, he remained undeterred. Moving to Paris with nothing, he pursued his boxing dreams. Introduced to MMA by coach Fernand Lopez Owonyebe, Ngannou debuted professionally in the UFC in 2015 after competing in European regional promotions.

Both Ngannou and Tyson have borne the struggles of a traumatic past and worked their way to the top. Tyson seems to be the perfect coach for Ngannou for his debut match. The daydreaming boy from Cameroon must have never thought he would get to see, in fact, be trained by his idol.

Does his story inspire you as well? Who are you rooting for in this clash of titans?

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