28 December 2024 , 09:20
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Boxer Paul Bamba has died at the age of 35 just six days after winning his first title.
Bamba beat Rogelio Medina Luna in New Jersey last Saturday to win the WBA Gold Cruiserweight belt.
A former United States Marine who served for seven months in Iraq, Bamba turned to professional boxing in 2021.
Last month, Bamba became the first client of Ne-Yo’s new management company.
‘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,’ Ne-Yo and the Bamba family said in a statement.
‘He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But more than anything, he was a tremendous individual that inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination,’ the statement continued.
‘We are heartbroken by his passing and kindly ask for privacy and understanding during this difficult time as we collectively navigate our grief.’
Paul Bamba was signed by Ne-Yo’s new management company in November (Instagram)
Speaking after his win last Saturday, Bamba called out Jake Paul for a fight in 2025.
‘Jake talks a lot about wanting to be a world champion, so my simple message to him is that I have something he wants – a real title,’ Bamba said.
‘You can come get it, fight for it, or keep doing the gimmick fights. At the end of the day, I’ve put in the work. You can say you’ve taken boxing seriously, and yeah, you’ve made a lot of money, but you haven’t earned anything in boxing.
‘If you think about how I started versus where I am now, I didn’t wait for an opportunity… I created one. I grabbed it by the horns and made things happen this year. Look at the facts: 14 fights, 14 KOs in one year. How many belts do I have here?’
Bamba was scheduled to fight Tommy Fury in Dubai in November 2022 but the fight was called off over a dispute over the weight for the bout.