Born in Puerto Rico, Paul Bamba got his first taste of combat not in boxing but in the Marine Corps. He served as a gunner with the Marines on a tour of Iraq, but after his time in the military, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This led to a struggle to hang onto a job as he became homeless, sleeping on the 6 Train in New York City for more than a year.

Bamba found some solace when he began boxing at Morris Park Boxing Club in The Bronx, New York, and made $10 per round to spar the amateurs in the gym. It wasn’t until former WBA welterweight titleholder Aaron “Superman” Davis and Bobby Miles, the gym’s head trainers, saw Bamba in action and helped him turn around his life and he became a professional boxer.

Last weekend, he secured a 6th-round stoppage victory over Rogelio Medina Luna at the Carteret Performing Arts Center in Carteret, New Jersey to win the WBA Gold Cruiserweight title and surpass the legendary Mike Tyson in the process. However, just days after this feat, tragedy struck as his manager, singer Ne-Yo announced the boxer’s sudden death at the age of 35.

Ne-Yo, who signed Bamba to his management company in November, confirmed the news in a joint statement alongside Bamba’s family on Instagram.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched countless lives,” the statement read. He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But more than anything, he was a tremendous individual that inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination. We are heartbroken by his passing and kindly ask for privacy and understanding during this difficult time as we collectively navigate our grief.”

Bamba fought every month in 2024 and won each of his 14 fights via knockout. He had even called out Jake Paul after his recent win telling him to “come get it.” However, his untimely passing has left the boxing community in shock with many notable names sharing their condolences.

Let’s have a look at his journey from being a Marine Corp to winning the WBA Gold Cruiserweight Championship.

Paul Bamba’s early life and background

A native of Puerto Rico, Bamba was born in 1989 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the details about his early life are currently unavailable, but he eventually made his way to the United States. A report from Boxing Scene reveals that the 35-year-old served in the military, as part of the Marine Corps for two years.

He worked as an infantry machine gunner with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines on a tour of Iraq. After leaving the military, he found himself struggling for a stable job until his run at the Morris Park Boxing Club. There, he came under the eye of Aaron Davis and Bobby Miles, who taught him how to hold his hands and move his feet. Thanks to them, he found a new career as a personal trainer and soon took up the sport professionally.

“Boxing literally saved my life,” Bamba said in an interview this year. “Whether I fight or whether I can teach people this sport, boxing, I truly feel as though, is my calling.”

After competing in three amateur bouts, he turned pro in January of 2021, defeating Felix Alexis Cardenas in one round in Mexico. His third professional fight came with an upset as he lost the fight via 4th-round knockout. He recorded three more wins and two more losses by April 2023.

Bamba began his career with three losses in his first eight bouts but then went unbeaten for the rest of his career, finishing with a record of 19 wins in 22 fights. This winning streak meant he overcame the remarkable achievement set by Mike Tyson.

Paul Bamba’s boxing record: Which Mike Tyson feat did he surpass?

Bamba won 14 straight bouts via knockouts and surpassed Mike Tyson for the most knockout wins in a calendar year. Tyson had won 13 fights in 1986, culminating in him winning the heavyweight title.

Bamba’s run began against Guillermo Ponce in January and he continued his winning streak defeating the likes of Ronald Montes, Franciso Fuentes, and Jose Luis Herrera, among others before seeing off Santander Silgado Gelez in his penultimate bout.

His final fight saw him claim championship gold after forcing former super middleweight title contender Rogelio Medina Luna to retire on his stool after six rounds. Following his passing,  Mustafa Meekins, who trained Bamba for his title win shared his thoughts on the tragic development.

He wrote on Instagram, “Crazy how life turns. Never know what day it’s all going to end. Be grateful for every moment and appreciate it all.”

His passing garnered tributes from many big names including British rapper and YouTuber DTG. He posted a video of his world championship victory having recently spent time with the boxer. Expressing his shock at the news, he wrote on X, “This s**t can’t be real I’m crying in the airport bro wtf I’m gonna lose it.” Later he posted a more emotional tribute to Bamba.

“I feel pain in my heart,” he wrote. “Spent the last month with Bamba helping him prepare for this title fight as a sparring partner, watched him lift the belt, spent time with him and bonded with him on a big bro lil bro vibe and honestly made life long memories in such a short time and you’re telling me that as I’m making my way back to London I get a call saying he’s gone. My condolences to his loved ones.”

This news has sent shockwaves across the boxing community.

How did Paul Bamba pass away?

Bamba was reportedly with his promoter and friend Ne-Yo in Atlanta when he passed away. Besides their relationship as promoter and boxer, Bamba was also Ne-Yo’s personal trainer for some time. He traveled with Ne-Yo on domestic and abroad tours. 

While no official cause of death has been disclosed, some fans online have speculated that an undiagnosed head injury might have played a role. He had been actively fighting for 12 consecutive months, though there is no evidence to support this theory. Given the fact that Bamba called out Jake Paul after his win, the likelihood of that is low. 

So far his family has not revealed any cause of death.

Bamba also had a stint in influencer boxing in 2021. He fought against Chris Avila in April 2021 on a Misfits Boxing card in a losing effort. He also had a fight canceled against Tommy Fury in 2022. However, he looked to capitalize on the growing popularity of the genre and challenged Logan Paul right after his win over Medina Luna.

Paul Bamba called out Jake Paul

After defeating Rogelio Medina Luna last weekend, Paul Bamba earned the WBA gold cruiserweight title. And since Paul recently defeated Mike Tyson and with Bamba surpassing Mike Tyson’s record, the 35-year-old was planning to fight influencer boxer Jake Paul. “Jake talks a lot about wanting to be a world champion so my simple message to him is that I have something that you want; a real title,” Bamba told Bloody Elbow. 

“You can come get it, you can come fight for it or whatever, you can keep doing the gimmick fights. At the end of the day I’ve put in the work. You can say you’ve taken boxing seriously and yeah you’ve made a lot of money but you haven’t earned anything in boxing,” he added. “…I’m actually doing s*** in boxing to where I’m getting ranked, why isn’t Jake doing that?”

Following his passing, Jake Paul posted on X, “RIP Paul Bamba.”

Paul Bamba might have passed but his journey in boxing thus far is one that will inspire generations to come. His streak of wins in 2024 should continue to define his legacy.