A Marine veteran turned boxing champion's sudden passing has shocked the combat sports world.
According to Daily Caller, Paul Bamba, who recently clinched the WBA Cruiserweight title and broke Mike Tyson's record for most professional fights in a year, died at age 35, as announced by his manager NE-YO on Friday.
The rising star's death came just days after his victorious championship bout on December 21, where he knocked out Rogelio Medina in New Jersey.
This victory marked his 14th consecutive stoppage win within the past 12 months, surpassing Mike Tyson's previous record for most professional fights in a single year.
Bamba's path to boxing stardom emerged from challenging circumstances. The fighter revealed in a November 12 Instagram post that his boxing career began during a period of homelessness. His military service included deployment in Iraq before pursuing his boxing career.
His manager NE-YO, the "Miss Independent" singer, shared an emotional tribute highlighting Bamba's character.
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and loved touched countless lives. 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.
The champion's final professional appearance demonstrated his continued ambition in the sport. After securing the cruiserweight title, Bamba openly challenged YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
In his last interview with Bloody Elbow following the championship victory, Bamba directly addressed Jake Paul's boxing aspirations.
He questioned Paul's commitment to the sport while offering him a legitimate opportunity at a world title:
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. 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.
Jake Paul responded to the news of Bamba's death with a brief tribute on X, formerly Twitter. His management team or family has not disclosed the exact cause of Bamba's death.
Paul Bamba, a 35-year-old former Marine, and WBA Cruiserweight champion passed away on December 28, 2024, just days after achieving his greatest professional triumph.
His remarkable journey from homelessness to becoming a record-breaking boxing champion ended abruptly after securing his fourteenth consecutive stoppage victory and claiming the WBA Cruiserweight title.
While his challenge to Jake Paul remains unfulfilled, Bamba's legacy as a determined fighter who overcame significant personal challenges to achieve championship status will endure in boxing history.
