- Heavyweight Ardi Ndembo from Congo was knocked out by rival Nestor Santana
- He was put into a coma in Miami, but tragically died three weeks later
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
A boxer has died after being left in an induced coma following a brutal knockout at an event in Miami earlier this month.
Congolese heavyweight Ardi Ndembo was competing in a Team Combat League competition when he was knocked to the canvas by opponent Nestor Santana.
The father-of-two, who had a perfect 8-0 record, was put into a medically induced coma in hospital after lying unconscious in the ring for several minutes.
But on Thursday evening, the promotion posted on
‘He remained in an induced coma until his untimely death. RIP Ardi Ndembo!’
Boxer Ardi Ndembo has died after being left in an induced coma following a brutal knockout
Ndembo’s wife reportedly flew from Las Vegas to Florida to be by his side.
Team Combat League sees boxers compete as teams rather than as individuals, and Ndembo represented Las Vegas Hustle.
Floyd Mayweather’s uncle Jeff is part of the Las Vegas team and he paid tribute to his fighter after the sickening incident.
He told The Sun: ‘Boxing is a sport you grow up loving, but there are so many risks involved.
‘Anyone can lose their life in boxing. When something like this happens, the whole world wakes up. I don’t think boxing is a bad sport because you can die in any sport.
‘If you drive a racing car at 320 km/h, you will also die if it skids. You can die in a sport, but boxing is a brutal sport.’
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman was among the first to pay tribute. He posted on X: ‘May he rest in peace. Ardi Ndembo passed away in Miami. Our condolences go to his family.’
A GoFundMe has been set up to raise ‘relief funds’ for Ndembo’s family. The total currently stands at $9,446.
It reads: ‘On April 5, 2024, heavyweight boxer Ardi Ndembo suffered significant injuries while competing in Miami, Florida.
“Team Combat League will match total third-party donations up to a maximum of $25,000 to help the Ndembo children.
‘Ardi Ndembo, originally from Brazzaville, Congo, is a 27-year-old father of two.
“Please take a moment to send your strength, prayers and financial support to the Ndembo children during this challenging time.”
More to follow.
