Heather “The Heat” Hardy, a boxing star from Brooklyn, found herself forced to step away from the sport she loves, rather than choosing to retire.
The former WBO featherweight champion suffers from severe headaches, seizures, and muscle spasms, symptoms her lawsuit claims align with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease often seen in former athletes.
At 43, Hardy’s case in Manhattan Supreme Court marks a first for a female boxer, as she alleges her doctors, promoters, and even the company that made her gear allowed her to fight while she was unfit and deprived her of necessary health insurance.
“The boxing industry…catastrophically failed Heather Hardy,” her legal documents state.
Hardy, residing in Gerritsen Beach, began her professional boxing career in 2012, primarily to provide for her young daughter.
She fought 27 times, securing 24 victories against 3 losses, accumulating around $236,450 throughout her boxing journey.
“They took advantage of her pain for profit and discarded her when she couldn’t go on,” said Priya Chaudhry, one of her attorneys.
According to the court filings, Dr. Nitin Sethi, who heads the New York State Athletic Commission’s medical team, allegedly misrepresented the findings of her MRI, which led to her being cleared to participate in fights she should have skipped.
Hardy also claims she was denied multimillion-dollar medical insurance mandated for fighters by promoters to cover injuries related to bouts. She voiced concerns that earlier intervention might have delayed the worsening of her symptoms.
In New York, typical fight insurance expires one year post-event without claims filed, as reported.
She contends the state commission was aware of her declining health but did not include it as a defendant in her case.
Her most recent fight was on August 5, 2023, against Amanda Serrano, where she endured 278 punches and lost by a unanimous decision.
Following that match, Hardy experienced a three-day loss of vision during training. A doctor recommended she see a neurologist, but financial constraints hindered her from doing so, according to her legal documents.
She is also pursuing legal action against Everlast Worldwide and its parent company, Frasers Group, as well as Boxing Insider and promoter Lou DiBella.
DiBella’s attorney dismissed the allegations as “sensationalist fiction,” claiming evidence submitted to Hardy’s lawyer made the lawsuit inappropriate.
The case is seeking unspecified damages and reimbursement for medical expenses incurred.
Several boxing officials criticized the lawsuit, calling it a “shakedown,” and questioned the omission of Most Valuable Promotions, which promoted Hardy’s last fight.
A source mentioned, “Heather should never have been in the ring with Serrano.” Another suggested other influences, like domestic abuse, substance use, and a recent e-bike accident, might have played a role in her health issues.
Reportedly, Hardy admitted in an online clip to drinking a significant amount of wine nightly for an extended period, although no footage of this was found.
Hardy has shared her experiences with domestic violence. Doctors at New York University Langone have tied her alcohol consumption to neurological complications resulting from her boxing career, as stated in her court filings.
No representatives from Everlast, Sethi, or Most Valuable Productions have responded to requests for comments.
