It was sometime in May that Heather Hardy gave a hint that perhaps her journey in combat sports was all but over. Through an Instagram post, she revealed how a debilitating brain injury forced her to reconsider her priorities. She had penned her thoughts just before her bare-knuckle debut.

The 42-year-old former world champion, who has in the past dabbled in MMA as well, last fought Amanda Serrano in a rematch at the Jake Paul–Nate Diaz fight last year. Through a series of posts, Heather Hardy shared her experiences and emotional response to the situation.

Heather Hardy: Through silent struggles

Though she had shared a picture that showed her smiling, the sadness in Heather Hardy’s message couldn’t have been missed. She said, “Inflammation around the optic nerves in my brain. So since August 2023, I not only had brain damage I had a big, fat, swollen brain. That still hasn’t had time to get better, and friends, that’s terrifying. After all, I am just a girl, right? ❤️‍🩹🧠”

But revealing the harsh realities of life, ‘The Heat’ subsequently acknowledged the irreversible nature of brain damage. “Brain damage is one thing; it’s just dead brain you’ll never get back,” she said. However, she further added that there’s no point dwelling on it: “You can weep for it, but what’s done is done.”

Her condition is so severe that she should be protecting her brain. However, she couldn’t help but express the frustration that comes as she realizes that she has to carry on with normal activities.

Early in August, when an excerpt from her interview with ‘Fight Post’ appeared, Amanda Serrano immediately reposted it, expressing her love and support for Heather Hardy. The two first met way back in 2019. Roughly a year before, Hardy had won the vacant WBO featherweight title. Four years later, they met again for ‘The Real Deal’s undisputed titles. Like the previous time, this time too, Serrano emerged victorious.

The unseen toll

Subsequently, news emerged that Hardy would be making her bare-knuckle debut against Christine Ferea, BKFC’s flyweight champion. They were all set for a face on BKFC 61, scheduled for May 11. Unfortunately, the fight never took off. A few days before, through an Instagram post, Heather Hardy updated, “My fight for May 11 is off. After my fight last summer with Amanda, my vision remained blurred for a few days. I went for an MRI and to get my eyes checked while I was still in TX and it was diagnosed the aftereffects of a concussion.”

Deeply reflecting on her difficult and painful experience, she was forced to make the tough choice. On the one hand, she had to continue fighting to support her daughter and maintain a certain level of lifestyle. But her health kept deteriorating. Things got worse after some light sparring when she could not see clearly for close to two days. Upon checking, it came out that she had suffered way too many concussions, resulting in serious brain damage. Considering that any further continuation could lead to her losing her sight, Hardy was advised to avoid any activities that could lead to head injuries.

She closed her message: “So I said the thing 😔 ya know what that means.” Many felt that it implied that she had finally made the difficult decision. Acknowledging the harsh reality of her situation, perhaps she had decided to retire from fighting.

The boxing community hopes for Heather Hardy’s swift recovery and well-being. You may share your message in the comments section below.