Francis Ngannou's heartbreaking message after 15-month-old son dies

The 15-month son of Francis Ngannou has tragically died, prompting the UFC icon to share a devastating message online.

After news came from his home country of Cameroon, Ngannou took to social media to express his grief and confusion. "What's the purpose of life if what we're fighting tooth and nail to get away from is what finally hit us the hardest!? " he wrote on X.

"Why is life so unfair and merciless? Why does life always take what we don't have? I'm f****** tired."

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On Instagram, Ngannou shared his pain in a statement. He wrote: "Too soon to leave but yet he's gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he's laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he's not responding.

"I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most. How do you deal with such a thing?

"How can you live with it? Please help me if you have an idea because I really don't know what to do and how to deal with this."

As of now, the cause of death remains undisclosed, reports the Mirror, with those close to Ngannou giving him space during this incredibly tough time.

UFC fighter Conor McGregor shared his sympathies. He said: "I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time."

Saudi's boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, extended his sympathies towards Ngannou on X. They said: "My heart goes out to @francis_ngannou for his loss. May his son's soul rest in peace."

The 37-year-old was considering his next steps after losing to Anthony Joshua in his second professional match, but will likely take some much needed time away from the sport.

Ngannou grew up in poverty while living in Batie, Cameroon and worked from the age of ten. Keen to pursue his career as a fighter, he headed to Europe at the age of 26.

He was jailed for illegally crossing the Spanish border, and ended up homeless in Paris before finding a boxing club.

Boxing trainer Didier Carmont introduced Ngannou to MMA and convinced him to focus on that instead of boxing, and after impressing with a 5-1 record in France he was signed to the UFC before becoming the heavyweight champion and eventually leaving the company.

The first ever MMA gym in Cameroon was opened by Ngannou, and he has 26,000 beneficiaries from his foundation that donates educational materials to children and schools.

"When I started, I had nothing. Nothing. I needed everything. But when you start [to earn money], you starting collecting things: I want this, I want this, I want that," Ngannou once said of his inspiring journey. "The purpose is not collecting things, though. The purpose is to do something great. Finish the dream you started.

"I want to help my family, first, of course, but then I want to give opportunity to children in my country like me who have a dream to become a doctor or something. If I reach my dream, it will give me the opportunity to help those in my country who have their own dreams and nothing else to fulfil them.

"I want to give some opportunity for children like me who dream of this sport and don't have an opportunity like me. The last time I was in Cameroon, I brought a lot of materials for boxing and MMA to open a gym. Now I just bought a big space to start the gym, as well.

"A lot of children now in Cameroon, because of me, they have a dream. They say, 'I will be a champion in MMA. I will do boxing like Francis,' because they saw me when I was young. I didn't have anything. I didn't have any opportunity. And today, they see me, and they are dreaming. They are thinking that something is possible. Even when they are so poor, something is possible in life. ... It's not easy. It's so hard, but it's possible."

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