The world of professional fighting, whether it be MMA or boxing, has arrived at a crossroads that will define the future of both codes going forward. With a growing number of YouTubers being given the time of day in the industry over those who have sacrificed everything to finally get a shot on the world stage, the need to decide what is best for the sports has never been greater.
The match in question that has brought the fighting world to this much-needed moment of reflection is the upcoming bout between Youtuber Jake Paul and retired UFC fighter Ben Askren. Intriguingly, the most recent Jake Paul vs Ben Askren odds shows that Paul is the favourite to win when they go head-to-head. Indeed, at odds of evens to knock Askren out, there is every chance that Paul will be headlining an event in the not-too-distant future again. Naturally, this has left seasoned fight fans in despair given how much exposure Paul will gain from this fight.
Is this the message that the industry should be sending to aspiring fighters? That hard work and unwavering commitment to a goal can be exchanged for a snakes and ladders-style gamble to the top? In a world full of fly-by-night characters like Jake Paul, we need to remember that there are still those out there in the fighting world that have stories that can inspire lasting change for the better. It’s hard to think of a more moving tale of sacrifice than that of Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou recently won the UFC heavyweight championship of the world against Stipe Miocic in Las Vegas. The 34-year-old’s rise to the top of the division has been paved with backbreaking self-sacrifice. It was only 24 years ago that the man born in Batie, Cameroon, was shovelling sand in scorching temperatures at a local mine in a bid to provide for his family. The aim for Ngannou was to make enough money so that he could buy one of the trucks that picked up the sand at the end of the day.
This was the burning ambition of many of the workers and seen as the best way to change their lives for the better, but deep down, Ngannou’s greatest desire was to emulate his hero, Mike Tyson. It was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a dream that he was ridiculed for on account of his lack of opportunity at the start.
Nevertheless, this saw him finally decide to leave Cameroon in a bid to get to France so that he could begin training in a first-world country in order to achieve his goal. Having made his way on foot over the north of Africa, standing between Ngannou and his dream was the Strait of Gibraltar. But even as he stood out on the blustery tip of the Tingitan Peninsula looking out to where Spain was, the courageous Ngannou did not back down.
The 34-year-old made a beeline for the City of Light and the rest, as they say, is history. Fast forward to the present day and more challenges await Ngannou as the defence of his heavyweight title will begin shortly with a potential bout with Jon Jones on the cards. Although there is little concern that he will surrender his belt so soon after being priced at 8/15 to beat Jones who is at 6/4 to win.
Francis Ngannou’s story will surely be made into a blockbuster movie sooner or later but more importantly, the Cameroonian has given people the message that they should never give up.
These are the types of individuals that the fighting world should be bending over backward to welcome in. Indeed, when you compare Ngannou’s triumphant story to someone like Jake Paul’s, it’s hard to comprehend that the latter is being paid more for his fights. The powers that be of the fighting world are setting a dangerous precedent, change is certainly needed.
