Hardy Battling Traumatic Brain Injury After Boxing Career

Former WBO Featherweight champion Heather Hardy disclosed that she is suffering from a traumatic brain injury sustained during her boxing career, according to MMA Mania.

Hardy, 44, launched a GoFundMe campaign this week asking the combat sports community for financial support as she deals with the long-term effects of absorbing punches over her 24-3 professional boxing career. The injury has impaired her vision and prevented her from working consistently enough to cover basic living costs, she wrote in the fundraiser description.

"Now I'm facing the hardest fight of my life outside the ring," Hardy wrote, per the report. "After years of taking punches for the sport I loved, I suffered a traumatic brain injury. The damage has affected my health, my vision, and my ability to work consistently enough to cover basic living expenses and necessities."

Hardy last fought in August 2023, losing a lopsided unanimous decision to Amanda Serrano in their rematch. She experienced double vision, dizziness and other post-concussion symptoms after that bout. A neurologist later confirmed the traumatic brain injury diagnosis, forcing her retirement from combat sports.

The Brooklyn native captured the WBO Featherweight title in 2018 with a unanimous decision over Shelly Vincent. She also compiled a 2-2 record across four Bellator fights between 2017 and 2019, scoring one knockout victory during her mixed martial arts stint.

Hardy said donations will help cover immediate living expenses while she focuses on recovery and finding stability outside the ring. As of publication, the fundraiser has collected more than $42,000 toward its $100,000 goal.