By Crystal Ugoeze
Francis Ngannou has opened up about the painful memory of losing his father to illness and poverty, saying the experience shaped his understanding of money and success.
Speaking during an interview about his reported £15 million payday from his boxing fight against Anthony Joshua, Ngannou said wealth should not be judged by figures alone, but by the difference it makes in people’s lives.
“My father died with one leg rotten,” Ngannou said emotionally, recalling how his father remained bedridden for months without access to proper medical treatment.
According to the former UFC heavyweight champion, his father became so weak that he could no longer move around on his own before eventually dying at home.
Ngannou said the tragedy continues to haunt him, especially the thought that his father’s life might have been saved if the family had enough money for hospital care.
“Maybe we could have saved him if we had money. Maybe he could still be alive if he had gone to the hospital,” he said.
The Cameroonian fighter explained that his personal experiences changed the way he views money, stressing that what may appear insignificant to wealthy people can completely transform the lives of poor families.
“Life-changing money is not the amount,” Ngannou said. “You give $10 million to somebody rich, maybe nothing changes. But you give $1,000 to somebody poor, and you can save a life, send a child to school or buy medicine.”
Ngannou, who rose from poverty in Cameroon to become one of the world’s biggest combat sports stars, said his background continues to influence his outlook despite earning millions from boxing and mixed martial arts.