Heather Hardy is asking the combat sports community for help as she continues to battle the devastating effects of a traumatic brain injury.
The former WBO Featherweight champion and four-time Bellator veteran recently launched a GoFundMe campaign, revealing that years of absorbing punches have affected her health, vision and ability to work consistently.
“Now I’m facing the hardest fight of my life outside the ring,” Hardy wrote. “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, 44, built a 24-3 professional boxing record with one “No Contest,” capturing the WBO Featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Shelly Vincent in 2018. She also competed four times under the Bellator banner between 2017 and 2019, going 2-2 with one knockout victory.
“The Heat” last competed in August 2023, suffering a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Amanda Serrano in their rematch. Hardy experienced double vision, dizziness and other post-concussion symptoms following the fight. A neurologist later diagnosed her with a traumatic brain injury, forcing her to walk away from combat sports.
Hardy said donations will be used to cover her immediate living expenses while she focuses on her health and finding stability outside of boxing.
“If my fights ever inspired you, if you cheered for my championships, or if you’ve ever given everything to a job only to have it take your health and leave you without help, please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser,” Hardy wrote.
“Every contribution helps me to meet my immediate living needs while I focus on my health, stability, and the next chapter of my life after boxing.”
As of this writing, Hardy’s fundraiser has collected more than $42,000 toward its $100,000 goal.
