Profile of Cameroonian wrestler Animal ahead of his big bout against American veteran

On July 22nd, Cameroon’s Animal will step into the ring with American wrestler “The Golden Boy” Jim McDowell at Pro Wrestling Africa’s Battleground 2023. This will mark the first time that we’re aware of that an American wrestler will compete in Cameroon.

Ahead of the Battleground event, which is set for the Palais Des Sports in Yaoundé, Cameroon, our own Olusesan Olukoya has provided us with a profile of Animal.

The gym is my second home for now- “Animal” Tazo Alain

The Cameroon wrestling champion and title holder who has his ring name as ‘’Animal’’ and real name as Tazo Nguechoung Alain Pierre, is a talented and skillful athlete. He is one of the most dreaded African pro wrestling talents in the heavyweight category.

Born on the 18th January 1982 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, L'Animal (The Animal) hails from Dschang, a city located in the West (Ouest) Province of Cameroon, with an estimated population of 200,000 inhabitants. Dschang is the capital of the division of Ménoua. The Bamilékés are the predominant ethnic tribe.

Animal, who became a professional wrestler in 1998, is a sensational wrestler of our time. He comes into the ring handcuffed and also leave same way while guided by 4 to 6 uniformed men as an ‘’animal’’ so as not to break free and attack the fans. The grappler, who had Bounga as his first opponent, was trained by Michel Noudem, the current Pro Wrestling Africa Heavyweight Champion and title holder. Animal, who has competed with a who’s who in Cameroon as well as other African nations, has been training for the upcoming “BATTLEGROUND 2023” event that will pair him with the American warlord, “Golden Boy” Jim McDowell who is a dentist by day and a professional wrestler by night in the USA.

“I am the sensation of African professional wrestling in the heavyweight category. I am a seven times heavyweight champion and title holder in Cameroon. I have no rival for now and that is the reason why I have been selected to compete against the Golden Boy. It is an opportunity for me to prove and showcase myself to the world. I am the Cameroon heavyweight champion and the awaiting world Champion. I may not have the exposure and experience of the Golden Boy but I will prove to him that the title is my legacy. The organizers of this world contest are well appreciated’,’ explained Animal.

“Golden Boy” Jim McDowell, who hails from Florida in the USA and who is set to make his African pro wrestling debut against ‘’Animal’’ Alain Tazo of Cameroon, has also sent a message to Animal to watch out for his arrival. ‘’You may be a wrestler in Africa but you don’t have the experience I have acquired for over 30 years as a pro wrestling talent. I will definitely teach you a lesson you will remember for a long time,” boasted Golden Boy.

The two talents will compete at a professional wrestling championship organized by Cameroon Pro Wrestling Federation (FECACATCH) in collaboration with Pro Wrestling Africa, the African pro wrestling confederation set up to see to the smooth operation of the sport in Africa and also serve as a link to the world of professional wrestling. At the championship where a winner will definitely emerge, other Cameroon talents that will be featured are: El Kass, Moustapha Zouberu, Kirikou, Le Tigre, Bienvenue, Mbunga, Black Tiger, Valdess and Arc en ciel. The event will hold at the Palais des Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon on Saturday July 22nd, 2023 at 4 PM.

Animal confessed that the most memorable match he has had to date was with El Kass, while he had the toughest fight of his life with the Nigerian Mighty Man in September 2015 during the Battle of Yaounde. Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar are the wrestlers he respects the most. He lists wrestling in the United Arab Emirate and Turkey as his international experience.

‘’I have the gym as my second home for now as I train in the morning and evening on [a] daily basis and for longer hours since the Golden Boy will not be an easy bone to crack.” Tazo has the future goal to compete in the WWE and lists Hulk Hogan and Zeus as his childhood wrestling heroes.