FORMER boxing world champion Heather Hardy has announced her retirement due to health fears.
The 42-year-old, who lost the WBO featherweight title to Amanda Serrano in 2019, has been forced to hang up her gloves on medical advice.
Hardy was due to take on Christine Ferea in a bare-knuckle bout this weekend.
However, she revealed in an emotional social media statement that she has been warned that she risks going blind from brain damage if she continues to fight.
That has led the New Yorker to call off this week’s fight with her unsuccessful attempt at gaining revenge against Serrano in last year’s rematch now looking certain to have been the last time fans see her in action.
Hardy posted: “My fight for May 11 is off. After my fight last summer with Amanda, my vision remained blurred for a few days.
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“I went for an MRI and to get my eyes checked while I was still in TX and it was diagnosed the after effects of a concussion [but in] six-to-eight months I should be fine.
“So basically I needed a fight, and it never got better. My daughter is in college.
“Everyone thinks I made millions in my career but i didn’t, I went paycheck to paycheck keeping that kid in the best neighbourhood so she could go to the best schools.
“And I needed to take the fight, so long story short a month into training for Christine and everything got worse with my sight.
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“I was down to 123lb because I couldn’t eat, I wasn’t sleeping I was so weak.”
Hardy continued: “I hadn’t told anyone how bad it was, not my boyfriend not my coaches.
“I thought I could make it through the ten minute fight, but after a very light sparring session i couldn’t see s*** for two days.
“I didn’t eat or sleep Friday to Monday, and I knew i was too weak to do this s***.
“After finally seeing a doctor, he said I’ve had too many concussions. When you have a concussion, a piece of your brain dies and you never get it back. Imagine that?
“In ten years I’ve had too much brain damage. I can’t get anymore or else I won’t be able to see.
“No running, no jogging, no jumping rope, and no getting hit in the head. So I said the thing ya know what that means.”
Hardy looks set to retire from boxing with a record of 24 wins and three defeats.
She claimed the world title by beating Shelly Vincent via unanimous decision in 2018 but lost it in her first defence to Serrano.
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Hardy then lost via decision to Jessica Camara but bounced with successive victories over Calista Silgado and Taynna Cardoso to earn a shot at Serrano, but she lost via decision in August.
The star has also competed in MMA and had four fights in Bellator, winning two and losing twice.
Mike Tyson’s controversial comeback
Mike Tyson is BACK!
Yes, boxing’s youngest heavyweight champ of all time – just 20 when he achieved the feat – is preparing to lace them up again.
He faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on July 20 in Texas.
The controversial clash – set for the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Dallas – has been scrutinised over the 30-year age gap.
Tyson will be 58 by the time the fight for the ages comes around and nearly 20 years removed from his last professional contest.
He was last seen in the ring in November 2020 for an exhibition with fellow legend Roy Jones Jr, which ended a draw after eight rounds.
Paul is meanwhile 9-1 in the ring, losing only to Tommy Fury in 2023, and has won three times since.
His fight with Tyson will also be a landmark first on Netflix, with over 250MILLION subscribers able to watch the bout.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
