Page 49 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23

Art & culture
The very people
that are hailing
you now, in one
moment, can
change their
minds and turn
against you if
the table turns.
and boxing enthusiasts alike,
they all agreed that the win was
given to Fury because the boxing
world could not just come
to terms with the fact that an
MMA fighter would cross over
to boxing and beat Tyson Fury
the most celebrated champion
of this generation. But all the
same, Francis has proven once
again that nothing is impossible
for those who believe and work
hard to make their belief count.
I wrote an article about
Francis a while back in which
I mentioned the mindset of a
champion that Africans need to
rise to the top. That article was
about how Francis surmounted
every mountain to become the
world heavyweight champion
in MMA.
WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM
The fight between Ngannou
and Fury has happened, and the
world now knows that a new
heavyweight boxing champion
has come to the stage. There
is even a new report that
Hollywood has decided to make
a movie in honour of the life of
Francis Ngannou.
The Msingi team has been
following Francis’ story for
a while, and we are greatly
happy for him for all that he
has achieved in a short time and
for the many other great things
he will achieve in the world of
combat sports.
In his newfound life as a
heavyweight boxer, one person
who stands out, which I think
Francis Ngannou cannot take
for granted, is Mike Tyson.
‘Iron Mike’ gave everything
there was to prepare Francis
for the big fight, and from how
things went, it was clear Mike
was very proud of Francis and
vocal about it.
Lessons learnt
Dreams do come to pass:
If there is one thing to learn from
the life of Francis Ngannou, it is
that dreams, no matter how huge
they are and no matter what the
obstacles are, come to pass.
Positive support:
With the right people in our
lives, everything is possible.
And it’s not about those who
support through empty words,
but those who stay the course
even when everyone else gives
up on the way.
Nothing lasts forever:
After the fight between
Francis and Fury, I watched
in amazement how the boxing
community suddenly seemed
to turn against Tyson Fury.
One minute he was their world
champion; the next, he was
a failure because a supposed
debuting boxer gave him a
good run for his money. Francis
knocked him down in the third
round. This also becomes advice
to Francis and anyone else who
cares to hear: enjoy the moment
of fame and glory for the hard
work you put into the fight, but
never let it get into your head or
in your way. The people who are
hailing you now, in one moment,
can change their minds and turn
against you if the table turns.
Welcome on board, Francis!
ISSUE 23 | JANUARY 2024 49