Boxing Legend Heather Hardy retires from Combat Sports

Heather Hardy is more than a legend in the sport of Boxing, in terms of Women Combat Sports athletes she is a true pioneer.  A former WBO World Champion with a professionalBoxing record of 22 wins and only 3 defeats, Hardy also crossed over into MMA going 2-2 fighting for Bellator MMA one of the premier mixed martial arts promotions in the world at the time.

A true veteran in Combat Sports Heather Hardy also competed in Muay Thai and Kickboxing.  Competing against Amanda Serrano twice, Heather Hardy lost an unanimous decision both times displaying an unbelievable amount of heart in the ring during both fights.  Scheduled to make her debut in Bareknuckle Boxing for the inaugural “Most Violent Women Belt

“My fight for May 11 is off,” Hardy wrote on Instagram. “After my fight last summer with Amanda [Serrano], my vision remained blurred for a few days. I went for an MRI and to get my eyes checked while I was still in [Texas] and it was diagnosed the after effects of a concussion. [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 neighborhood 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.

“I was down to 123 pounds because I couldn’t eat, I wasn’t sleeping, I was so weak. 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 shit for two days. I didn’t eat or sleep Friday to Monday, and I knew I was too weak to do this shit. 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 any more or else I won’t be able to see. No running, no jogging, no jumping rope, and no getting hit in the head.”

Heather Hardy is a true legend in combat sports and it is sad to see her career come to an end due to medical.