Heavyweight boxer Ardi Ndembo, 27, dies three weeks after brutal knockout defeat left dad-of-two in induced coma
TRAGEDY has struck the boxing world following the passing of heavyweight boxer Ardi Ndembo.
Ndembo was left unconscious for several minutes after being brutally stopped by Nestor Santana in their Team Combat League clash in Florida earlier this month.
He was promptly taken to a Miami hospital, where he lay in an induced coma.
But the 27-year-old dad-of-two has tragically succumbed to his injuries.
A statement from the promotion read: “We at Viva Promotions mourn the loss of Ardi Ndembo, a talented Congolese boxer who tragically passed away after a knockout in a Team Combat League match on April 5.
“He remained in an induced coma until his untimely death.
“RIP Ardi Ndembo!”
Boxing fans were quick to pay tribute to the late Ndembo, with one writing on X: “Prayers for his family. RIP to him. Salute.”
Another said: “Prayers up to his family, team, close friends.”
And another said: “Condolences to his family, this is truly heartbreaking.”
One remarked: “Rest in peace, brother.”
Another chimed in: “Condolences to the family and friends of this young man, Ardi Ndembo. He was a gladiator.”
A fundraiser has started to help Ndembo’s family with funeral costs.
It’s currently sitting close to £9000, £10k short of its £19,000 goal.
WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney donated close to £1200 to the GoFundMe.
Team Combat League have vowed to match all donations up to the £19k target.
Jeff Mayweather, the uncle of boxing icon Floyd Mayweather, was ringside for the fatal bout.
He told SunSport: “Boxing’s a sport where you grow up watching it and loving it, but there’s so much risk involved.
“Anyone can lose their life from boxing. When something like this happens, it wakes up the whole entire world.
“I don’t think boxing’s a bad sport because you can die in any sport.
“You drive a race car at 200mph, if it slides, you’re going to die too.
“You can die in any sport but boxing is a brutal sport.”
TCL is a unique format in which combatants in a squad box over one or two rounds with points earned in each and tallied up to decide the winning team.
Ndembo was representing Las Vegas Hustle when he was brutally KO’d by Miami Assassin’s Santana.