Jake Paul’s MVP sued for $10 million by ex-world champ over bout that caused ‘permanent brain injury’

Heather Hardy has taken action against Jake Paul and his promotion.

The former WBO featherweight champion last fought in a 2023 rematch against Amanda Serrano, after which she retired from boxing.

A unanimous decision loss in their fight for the unified featherweight titles snapped Hardy’s two-fight winning run and spelled the end of her 11-year career in the ring.

The bout was staged by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, and three years later, they’ve been accused of “exploiting” Hardy’s difficult financial position to book an unsafe and dangerous match.

Hardy lost the WBO featherweight title to Serrano in their first match, which took place at New York City’s Hulu Theater in 2019.

‘The Heat’ later bounced back with late-career wins over Calista Silgado and Taynna Cardoso before the offer came for a championship rematch with ‘The Real Deal’.

The retired boxer is now suing over that fight, according to a complaint obtained by Uncrowned.

It is alleged that Hardy’s promoter, Lou Di Bella, stepped back from any involvement in the Serrano vs Hardy in 2023 rematch over fears the bout was unsafe due to his fighter’s years of accumulating punishment.

The bout, which took place on the undercard of Paul’s victory over ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, was apparently also opposed by Hardy’s trainers and friends.

MVP is accused of ignoring Di Bella’s stance and ‘exploiting’ Hardy’s worrying financial position to put on the match, a decision that is alleged to have resulted in the 44-year-old suffering a “permanent brain injury.”

“Defendants knew, or should have known, that the bout presented an extraordinary and foreseeable risk of serious neurological harm to Hardy,” the preliminary statement reads (h/t Uncrowned).

Part of the evidence includes Hardy’s claim that she lost vision during sparring for a bare-knuckle match in 2024 because of the damage she sustained against Serrano.

Hardy retired after being told of a problem in her brain by an ophthalmologist.

“Dr. Curreri concluded that Ms. Hardy now suffers from a permanent disability marked by traumatic brain injury, memory loss, double vision, anxiety disorder, spatial confusion, and perception and depth inaccuracies, among other impairments,” the lawsuit claims.

“According to Dr. Curreri, these symptoms left Ms. Hardy unable to concentrate and, in all likelihood, incapable of maintaining regular employment. Dr. Curreri’s assessment connected Hardy’s injury to the rematch itself.”

Years later, it is alleged that Hardy suffers from symptoms that affect her ability to coach and requires her to take daily medication.

The former world champion is seeking $10 million in damages from Jake Paul’s MVP for gross negligence, negligent undertaking, negligence per se, ordinary negligence and violation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.

Hardy’s lawsuit also includes a requirement for her former employer to introduce measures to stop other boxers from falling victim to the same situation.