A 27-year-old boxer tragically passed away on Thursday after spending three weeks in a medically induced coma following his last fight. Ardi Ndembo, a heavyweight boxer, was knocked unconscious during his April 5 bout against Nestor Santana in Miami. He was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was placed in a coma, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries earlier this week.
Viva Promotions, the organization behind the Team Combat League match, expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of Ardi Ndembo, describing him as a talented Congolese boxer. Floyd Mayweather's uncle, Jeff, who works with the Team Combat League, emphasized the inherent risks associated with boxing, acknowledging that any sport involving physical competition carries a level of danger.
Mayweather highlighted the universal risk of participating in sports, drawing parallels to other high-risk activities like race car driving. Despite the tragic outcome, he refrained from labeling boxing as a fundamentally dangerous sport, recognizing that fatal accidents can occur in various athletic pursuits.
The Team Combat League paid tribute to Ndembo with a 10-bell salute and announced that they would match donations made to a GoFundMe campaign in his honor, up to $25,000. Ndembo, who held an 8-0 record before the fatal fight, leaves behind his wife and two children.
