Cameroon is a country with a proud boxing tradition. Its history of boxing is deeply rooted in its past and its heritage, with the sport having been practiced for centuries.
Over the years, the country has produced some of the best boxers in the world, with a number of fighters reaching the pinnacle of the sport. From traditional boxers to Olympic champions, these Cameroonian pugilists have made a name for themselves in the world of boxing.
In this article, we will look at some of the greatest boxers that Cameroon has produced, and take a deeper look at their careers and accomplishments.
1. Francis Ngannou
Francis Zavier Ngannou is an incredibly accomplished athlete. He is a Cameroonian-French professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League, which is an American mixed martial arts organization.
He has had a successful career in the MMA and boxing world. He is known for his intense training regime and powerful punches. He has held the UFC heavyweight championship and is considered one of the greatest UFC heavyweight fighters of all time.
He has also won several other championships and titles in other organizations. Ngannou is an inspiration to many and is a great example of strength and determination. He continues to strive for greatness and aspires to be the best in his sport.
2. Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam
Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam is a highly accomplished professional boxer from France and Cameroon. He has had the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of the sport and has held two middleweight world titles in his career.
In 2012, he won the WBO middleweight title, and again in 2017, he claimed the WBA middleweight title. More recently, in 2019, N’Jikam challenged for the WBC super-middleweight title but was ultimately unsuccessful in his quest.
N’Jikam has become one of the most successful French-Cameroonian boxers in history. He has put in countless hours of hard work and dedication to get to where he is today and has been a shining example to aspiring boxers in both France and Cameroon.
He has been able to prove his mettle in the ring, and his accomplishments have been recognized and respected by boxing fans around the world.
3. Carlos Takam
Armand Carlos Netsing Takam is a professional boxer originally from Cameroon. He has competed at the highest level, challenging for the WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles in 2017.
Before turning professional, Takam had a successful amateur career, representing Cameroon at the 2004 Olympics. He has since gone on to become a respected professional boxer, with his highest achievement coming from his challenge for the unified heavyweight titles.
Takam is a determined competitor with a strong dedication to the sport, having worked hard to become one of the best boxers in his division.
4. Sakio Bika
Sakio Bika is an esteemed professional boxer who was born in Cameroon but is now based in Australia. He is a highly accomplished athlete, having won multiple championships during his career.
Bika held the WBC super-middleweight title from 2013 to 2014, and previously the IBO super-middleweight title from 2008 to 2010. This is a significant achievement, as it demonstrates his skill and commitment to boxing.
Furthermore, it shows that Bika has been able to sustain a high level of performance over a period of several years. This is a testament to his dedication to the sport, as well as his mental and physical abilities.
Sakio Bika is a fine example of a successful boxer and his achievements should be celebrated.
5. Herman Ngoudjo
Herman Ngoudjo is a former professional boxer who had a successful career spanning from 2003 to 2010. He was born in Cameroon but now lives in Canada. During his time as a professional, he had two opportunities to win the IBF junior welterweight title, in 2008 and 2009.
Before turning professional, Ngoudjo represented Cameroon on the international stage at the 2000 Olympics. During his time at the Olympics, he made it to the opening round of the bantamweight bracket.
Ngoudjo’s career in boxing was an impressive one, and he will be remembered for his resilience and skill in the ring.
6. Joseph Bessala
Joseph Bessala was an accomplished welterweight boxer from Cameroon. Born in Douala, Cameroon, Bessala had a successful amateur career, winning several medals in international amateur tournaments.
He then decided to turn professional in 2010, and had a successful amateur career, winning several titles in the African continent. Bessala won the African Welterweight title in 2011 and then won the World Boxing Council’s Intercontinental Welterweight title in 2012.
He was then crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) International Welterweight Champion in 2014.
He also held the African Boxing Union (ABU) Light-Middleweight title between 2017 and 2019. Bessala was known for his skill and technique in the ring and was known to be a well-rounded fighter.
His boxing style was often described as aggressive, but he was also known to be a counter-puncher. He was known for his powerful left jab and his sharp right hand.
Throughout his career, Bessala faced a number of top-tier opponents, including former world champions Carlos Molina and Zab Judah. Joseph Bessala was an important figure in the world of boxing and an inspiration for many aspiring boxers in Cameroon.
He was a true champion who achieved greatness in the sport despite the odds. His legacy will live on for many years to come.
7. Olivier Lontchi
Olivier Lontchi is a professional boxer from Cameroon who now lives in Canada. He is a super bantamweight fighter, meaning he is a boxer who typically weighs in between 115 and 118 pounds.
He is the current champion of the North American Boxing Association (NABA) super bantamweight division. Lontchi shares a connection with Herman Ngoudjo, another Cameroon-born boxer – both men are trained by the same coach, Howard Grant, and they are both based in Montreal.
This connection between the two fighters highlights the strength of the Cameroonian boxing community in Canada.
8. Maxime Yegnong
Maxime Yegnong Njieyo is an accomplished Cameroonian boxer.
He recently competed in the men’s super heavyweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the highest level of competition in the sport. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Maxime Yegnong Njieyo was one of the few boxers to represent Cameroon.
He had a long journey to the Olympics, having trained hard since he was a young boy. His dedication and hard work paid off when he was selected to compete in the men’s super heavyweight event. Maxime Yegnong Njieyo put forth an impressive performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He had an impressive record in his previous tournaments and was expected to be a strong competitor.
He competed against the best boxers from around the world, and although he didn’t win any medals, he showed that he could hold his own against the best in the world. Maxime Yegnong Njieyo’s performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics was a testament to his hard work and dedication.
His impressive record in previous tournaments, and his strong performance at the Olympics, showed that he is a boxer to be reckoned with. He is a great example of what hard work and dedication can do, and he is an inspiration to many.
9. Thomas Essomba
Thomas Essomba is a Cameroonian-British professional boxer who has achieved a great deal of success in his career. He is currently the holder of the European bantamweight title, having won it in May of 2023.
Prior to that, he held the Commonwealth flyweight title from 2015 to 2017.As an amateur, Essomba represented Cameroon at the 2012 Olympics, where he made it to the round of 16 in the light-flyweight bracket.
This was a great accomplishment for Essomba and it gave him the experience and confidence he needed to make it to the professional level. Essomba is a great example of how hard work and dedication can pay off, as he has achieved great success in both his amateur and professional careers.
He is an inspiration to many aspiring boxers and shows that success is achievable with hard work and determination.
10. Blaise Yepmou Mendouo
Blaise Yepmou Mendouo is a Cameroonian boxer who competed in the super heavyweight event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, his Olympic run was short-lived, as he was eliminated in the round of 16 by Mohamed Arjaoui of Morocco.
After his defeat, Mendouo was one of seven Cameroonian athletes who disappeared from the Olympic Village. It is unclear why the athletes chose to leave, though speculation suggests that they were worried about being deported after the Olympics.
Whatever the reason, their disappearance was a major blow to the Cameroonian Olympic team, as their absence also meant the end of Cameroon’s medal hopes.
Despite his defeat, Mendouo’s Olympic campaign was not in vain; it was a testament to the resilience and determination of a young Cameroonian athlete who was willing to take risks and go after his dreams.
11. Serge Ambomo
Serge Ambomo is a Cameroonian boxer who competed in the light welterweight event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, his time in the Olympics was cut short in the round of 32 when he lost to Turkish boxer Yakup Şener.
After his defeat, Ambomo was one of seven Cameroonian athletes who mysteriously disappeared from the Olympic Village. It is unclear why these athletes vanished, though it is speculated that they may have left in order to avoid having to return to their home country.
The athletes’ disappearances were a major source of controversy, with some believing that they had been mistreated by their home country. In the end, the athletes remain unaccounted for, and their motivations for leaving remain a mystery.
12. Hassan Ndam
Hassan Ndam is a professional soccer player from Cameroon who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He is a defender, which means he is responsible for helping his team to prevent the opponents from scoring.
Ndam is known for his defensive prowess and his ability to read the game. He is an experienced player with great physical attributes, good offensive abilities and excellent tactical awareness.
He is an important player for the Red Bulls, providing leadership and stability in the back line. He is also an excellent passer, and his combination play with the midfielders is an integral part of the Red Bulls’ attack.
Ndam has been a key part of the team’s success, helping them to reach the playoffs in recent years. He is a valuable asset to the team and will continue to be a leader on and off the pitch.
13. Rameau Sokoudjou
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou Nkamhoua, known simply as Sokoudjou, is a Cameroonian professional mixed martial artist. He has been a professional competitor since 2006 and has fought in a variety of organizations.
He is the former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion and has also fought in PRIDE, the UFC, WEC, Affliction, Strikeforce, K-1, DREAM, and Bellator. Sokoudjou is known for his aggressive fighting style and his ability to score knockouts.
He is known for his impressive first round KO wins over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in Pride and Lyoto Machida in the UFC.
He has also performed well in other organizations, winning the KSW Light Heavyweight Championship in 2013 and competing in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2012. Sokoudjou has had a long and illustrious career in the world of MMA.
He has competed in some of the most prestigious organizations in the sport, including the UFC, PRIDE, and Bellator. He is a former champion and has proven himself to be a top contender in the light heavyweight division.
He has also fought in other weight classes, including heavyweight and middleweight. His aggressive fighting style and ability to finish fights quickly make him a fan favorite and an exciting fighter to watch.
14. Alain Ngalani
Pierre Alain Ngalani is an incredibly accomplished martial artist. Born in Cameroon, he is a Hong Konger by nationality and is currently signed to ONE Championship, a popular mixed martial arts promotion.
Ngalani competes in the heavyweight division and has won a total of four Muay Thai World Championships. This impressive feat is a testament to his skill and dedication to martial arts, as becoming a Muay Thai World Champion is no easy task.
He has also competed in various other martial arts promotions and tournaments and has proven himself to be a formidable opponent in the ring.
15. Cédric Doumbé
Cédric Doumbé is a highly accomplished athlete who has made a name for himself in two different combat sports. He was born in Cameroon but later moved to France, where he began his professional career in mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
In mixed martial arts, Doumbé currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League. In kickboxing, he achieved the highest level of success, becoming a two-time Glory Welterweight Champion.
This is an especially remarkable feat considering the competitive nature of the sport. His success also demonstrates his incredible technical ability and physical strength. Doumbé is an inspiration to aspiring athletes all over the world.
Conclusion
Cameroon is a nation that has produced many of the world’s best boxing players, including the likes of Hassan Ndam Njikam, Tanguy Ndombele, and Francis Ngannou.
These athletes have achieved international success and recognition and have brought a great amount of pride to the people of Cameroon.
It is clear that the nation has a great deal of talent in the sport of boxing and is likely to continue to produce world-class fighters in the future.
