Ardi Ndembo, a 27-year-old heavyweight boxer, tragically passed away on Thursday, three weeks after a severe knockout during a match led to him being placed in an induced coma. Ndembo, who had an unblemished 8-0 record in his career, was competing in a Team Combat League fight on April 5 when he was knocked out by his opponent, Nestor Santana. The knockout left him unconscious in the ring for several minutes.
Ndembo, a father of two, was immediately rushed to a Miami hospital where he was placed in an induced coma. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.
Viva Promotions, the organization that promoted the fight, expressed their grief over Ndembo’s untimely death. In a statement, they remembered him as a talented Congolese boxer who tragically lost his life following the knockout during the Team Combat League match.
Jeff Mayweather, uncle of renowned boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., was part of the Las Vegas Hustle team that Ndembo represented. He was present at ringside during the fateful match. Speaking about the incident, Mayweather highlighted the inherent risks involved in boxing. He noted that while any sport can be dangerous, boxing is particularly brutal.
Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council (WBC), also paid his respects to the late fighter. He expressed his condolences to Ndembo’s family and wished for the departed soul to rest in peace.
Ndembo’s wife, who flew from Las Vegas to be with her husband during his final moments, is now left to care for their two children. To support the family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe page has been set up, which has already raised over $11,000. Team Combat League, in a show of solidarity, has pledged to match donations up to $25,000.