Francis Ngannou fought back tears as he spoke about his late son’s death at the PFL Battle of the Giants press conference.
Meanwhile his next opponent, Renan Ferreira, has shocked fans by using his opponent’s son’s passing to trash talk him ahead of their fight.
Ngannou gave a touching tribute to his sonCredit: X:@ChampRDS
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou hasn’t fought in the squared circle since outpointing Ciryl Gane over five rounds at UFC 270 in January 2022.
After leaving the UFC, he turned to boxing, fighting Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Now, Ngannou is returning to the sport and will fight Ferreira in his Professional Fighters League debut in October.
He makes his comeback just months after 15-month-old son Kobe passed away due to medical complications, with the news emerging in April.
Ngannou was emotional as he gave a touching answer regarding his son and the upcoming fight.
“I have questioned if I have to continue or if I should just hang up the gloves,” he said at Thursday’s press conference for the event in Washington.
“But then I realised that should be a purpose for me you know.”
“I didn’t have the chance to fight for my son man,” he said, holding back tears.
“So I think this is it.”
Cheers and applause erupted in the room in support of Ngannou as he placed his microphone down onto the table.
Ferreira’s comments haven’t gone down wellCredit: X:@MMA_CASUALS_
But the event was clouded by Ferreira saying Ngannou’s son’s death ‘won’t be the toughest thing he faces’ this year.
Ferreira said: “[Ngannou] has been going through a tough year in his life, but the toughest challenge in his life and in his year is gonna be me.
“I’m gonna be the biggest problem of his year right now.
Renan Ferreira using some extremely PERSONAL trash talk towards Francis Ngannou 😳
“He has been going through a tough year in his life, but the toughest challenge in his life and in his year is gonna be me.
I’m gonna be the biggest problem of his year.”Per @PFLMMA pic.twitter.com/UnOKeryFKp
— MMA Casuals (@MMA_CASUALS_) August 22, 2024
Francis Ngannou shed tears at the #PFL press-conference 😞
“I didn’t have a chance to fight for my son, man. So I think this is it.”
🎥 @pfl #MMA pic.twitter.com/JEWpQS9tW6
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 22, 2024
“It’s a tough puzzle for him to figure out.”
Jake Paul was in attendance at the press conference, separating Ngannou and Ferreira as they went face-to-face for the first time.