Photos: Francis Ngannou wishes striking coach Dewey Cooper a happy 50th birthday while posting several intense padwork snaps

Francis Ngannou took to social media to wish his coach a happy birthday and showcased some powerful pad work photographs of the two to underscore their bond more.

Dewey Cooper is celebrating his 50th birthday with his charge Ngannou giving him a shoutout via his personal Instagram page. 'The Predator' credited Cooper as one of the very few great people left out there:

"Happy 50th birthday to my brother @dcblackkobra, one of the very few great people left out there. Almost halfway to life. Keep going, bro. You're gonna get there".

Cooper has in the past described Ngannou's power as that of a prime Mike Tyson. Also after a competitive career having dozens upon dozens of fights, the coach has said holding pads for Ngannou is more taxing and punishing on his body than being inside the ring in the body of a live professional fight.

Check out the birthday photos Francis Ngannou shared of him and Dewey Cooper below:

[Image courtesy: @francisngannou on Instagram]

Dewey Cooper thinks Francis Ngannou has unfinished business in boxing

Francis Ngannou made a massive return relatively recently to the world of MMA to become the PFL Super Fight heavyweight champion. Despite this emphatic return to caged combat, Ngannou still has goals within the sweet science per Dewey Cooper.

The 38-year-old left the UFC as their reigning heavyweight champion and had massive showcases in the world of boxing thereafter. He had an incredible showcase against then-WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury where he controversially lost on points to 'The Gypsy King'. The multi-sport superstar would then lose via stoppage to Anthony Joshua in March.

Speaking to World Boxing News, Cooper seemed to prefer Ngannou defending his PFL belt next but stated that it is ultimately down to what the prolific knockout artist wants next. That being said Cooper did use the operative wording of 'unfinished business' to describe Ngannou's participation in the sport of boxing.

Cooper seemed keen on some of these bigger-name fighters coming over to Ngannou's primary sport of MMA and that he shouldn't always have to be expected to don the big gloves to make these fights happen.

The Cameroon native rematching Fury under MMA rules was something Cooper specifically indicated interest in as something to consider following Fury's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December. In any event, there are several big options for Ngannou and Cooper next regardless of who the specific opponent ends up being.