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Almost a week after his WBA Gold cruiserweight title win, Puerto Rican boxer Paul Bamba passed away. American singer-songwriter Shaffer Chimere Smith (Ne-Yo) confirmed the news of his demise via his official Instagram account. The joint statement of Bamba's family and Ne-Yo read,
"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."
It continued,
"He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achiece 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."
Through the statement, Ne-Yo and Paul Bamba's family have asked for "privacy and understanding," as they are grieving their loss.
For the uninitiated, Bamba was 35 and at the prime of his career. In 2024, the champion boxer broke Mike Tyson's 38-year-old record of 13 wins in a year. Bamba fought 14 times in 2024 and won all of them by knockout. His last fight was on December 21, 2024, against the Mexican boxer Rogelio Medina for the WBA Gold cruiserweight title.
Ne-Yo, who started his sports management stint recently, signed Paul Bamba in November 2024. Before his untimely passing, the boxer had also called out Jake Paul to a fight for the WBA Gold cruiserweight title. Although Bamba's career culminated tragically, it was pretty illustrious, with a 19-3 record.
A look at the boxing career of Paul Bamba
Paul Bamba was not a boxer initially, as the Puerto Rican served in the United States Marine Corps (or UNMC). However, after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a tour in Iraq, he left the armed forces. Once his military career was over, Bamba reportedly struggled with homelessness. Eventually, he trained at Morris Park Boxing Club, Bronx, while making $10/round as a sparring partner.
His professional career began in 2021, with a fight against the Mexican boxer Felix Alexis Cardenas. Bamba won his first bout with a technical knockout and recorded 19 career wins. 18 of his career victories were knockouts, while the Puerto Rican faced defeats in three fights. In 2024, Bamba had at least one bout each month and won all of them to make a new world record.
Interestingly, in 2022, Bamba was scheduled to fight Tommy Fury on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Deji. However, due to a weight dispute, Bamba reportedly pulled out of the bout and replaced Rolly Lambert as Fury's opponent.
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Besides his exceptional record as a boxer, Paul Bamba was also known for his closeness with Ne-Yo. The former US Marine reportedly assisted the R&B singer in boxing training as a part of his workout routine. Ultimately, Bamba became the first sportsperson to get signed by Ne-Yo when the latter debuted in boxing management. Unfortunately, the professional partnership was cut short due to the boxer's passing.
At the time of the writing, there have been many speculations around the death of the 35-year-old, but the family hasn't disclosed any cause.
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