Former UFC heavyweight champion turned ranked professional boxer Francis Ngannou was always popular in his home country of Cameroon, but his popularity has grown considerably since going the distance with lineal heavyweight world boxing champion Tyson Fury.  

During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Ngannou recounted a story about having to run from a mob of fans while recently visiting Cameroon.  

“Completely different than before (people recognizing him in public).  This fight, I can tell, it changed everything,” Ngannou said.  “In Cameroon I used to go out some time and I would have a crowd.  Last time I went I had to run because I almost get mobbed.  Like, I jumped behind the bicycle and was just like run, run, run because I couldn’t handle any more.  You just understand that it’s a different level.

“Yeah, it’s different level.  A lot of people show compassion a lot, show support, because so far everybody believes that I won that fight and they feel like this is injustice and they stand by your side for that.”    

Not only has his popularity rose, but Ngannou was respected enough as a boxer and a boxing draw to ink him to fight former two-time lineal heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in March.  The fight will take place in Saudi Arabia just like his boxing match against Fury.  

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