The global boxing community has been shocked by the news of newly crowned fighter Paul Bamba's death at the age of 35, just days after becoming a world cruiserweight champion.
The sun A newspaper reported that the cause of death of Bamba, who defeated Rogelio Medina last weekend to win the title, has not yet been announced. With this win, he broke Mike Tyson's record for most boxing victories in a calendar year by knockout, with 14 such victories.
Bamba, from Puerto Rico, signed with pop star Ne-Yo's management company and the artist announced the sad news with Bamba's family:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched the lives of countless people. He was a fierce, confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But most of all, he was a tremendous person who inspired so many With his extraordinary drive and determination, we are deeply saddened by his passing and ask for your privacy and understanding during this difficult time as we collectively cope with our grief.
Bamba challenged Jake Paul to a fight after his latest win, and the YouTuber-turned-boxer shared his own tribute on X: “RIP Paul Bamba.”
Bamba was scheduled to face Tyson Fury in November 2022, but the bout was canceled due to a weight dispute.
The boxing community began sharing its shock at the news. @Boxwerk wrote on Instagram: “Bamba has had an incredible year, culminating with a record-breaking performance as he surpassed Mike Tyson's long-standing record of an incredible 14 knockouts in 2024. His prowess in the ring and relentless drive have earned him the respect and admiration of the community Boxing around the world.
