Heather Hardy


Heather Hardy is an American former professional boxer and mixed martial artist. In boxing, she held the WBO female featherweight title from 2018 to 2019. Hardy is a member of the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.

Early life and family

Hardy was born on January 25, 1982, to John and Linda Hardy and is of Irish descent. She has two younger siblings, Kaitlyn and Colin. Hardy had married her high school sweetheart in 2004, but the pair divorced in 2010. Hardy was raised in Gerritsen Beach in South Brooklyn.
While in school, Hardy was active in athletics, aspiring to become the first female pitcher for the New York Yankees. Hardy went on to major in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan. She graduated at the age of 22.

Boxing career

Hardy started boxing in 2010 and had her first amateur bout in April 2011, aged 29, going on to win the USA Boxing national female featherweight title two months later.
She made her professional debut on 2 August 2012, defeating Mikayla Nebel over four rounds by unanimous decision at Roseland Ballroom in New York.
In her seventh pro-fight, Hardy won the Universal Boxing Federation female super-bantamweight title, stopping Ana Laura Gomez in the second round of their contest at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in New York on 9 November 2013.
Unbeaten in her first 10 paid fights, she claimed the vacant WBC female super-bantamweight International title on 15 October 2014, thanks to a majority decision success over Crystal Hoy at BB Kings Blues Club & Grill in New York. Two of the ringside judges awarded the fight to Hardy by 100–90 and 99–91 respectively, while the third saw it as a 95–95 tie.
On 21 August 2016 at Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, New York, she faced Shelly Vincent for the vacant WBC female featherweight International title in the first women's boxing bout televised on NBCSN. Hardy won via majority decision with two of the judges' scorecards reading 99–91 and 97–93 respectively in her favour, overruling the third who saw the contest as a 95–95 draw.
Hardy met Vincent in a rematch at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on 27 October 2018, with the vacant WBO female featherweight title on the line. She again won the bout, this time by unanimous decision.
Returning to Madison Square Garden Theater, she lost her title, and undefeated record, in her first defense, Go my down a unanimous decision defeat against Amanda Serrano on 13 September 2019. The following month she was given a six month suspension and fined $10,000 for failing an anti-doping test after the banned substance furosemide was found in a urine sample she provided the day before her fight with Serrano. Hardy blamed the test result on a prescription medication she was taking for "period symptoms."
After almost two years away from the competitive boxing ring, Hardy returned on 14 May 2021, losing to Jessica Camara via unanimous decision at the Embassy Suites Nashville SE in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Another lengthy lay-off followed, before her next outing which saw her get back to winning ways with a unanimous decision success over Calista Silgado in a six-round bout at Sony Hall in New York on 13 October 2022.
Hardy then secured a majority decision win against Taynna Cardoso over eight rounds at the same venue on 23 February 2023.
On 5 August 2023, Hardy faced Amanda Serrano, who by now was undisputed female featherweight world champion, in the co-main event of Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Just had been the case four years earlier, she lost via unanimous decision.
In October 2025, she was named among the inductees for the 2026 International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame class.

Mixed martial arts career

Invicta Fighting Championship

Hardy was scheduled to make her professional MMA debut against Brieta Carpenter at Invicta FC 21. However, the bout was cancelled due to an injury by Carpenter.

Bellator MMA

Hardy made her professional MMA debut at Bellator 180 in a flyweight bout against Alice Yauger on June 24, 2017, at the Madison Square Garden. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Hardy faced Kristina Williams in a flyweight contest at Bellator 185. She lost the bout via TKO due to a doctor stoppage in the second round after a head kick from Williams shattered her nose.
Hardy faced Ana Julaton on February 16, 2018, at Bellator 194. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Hardy faced Taylor Turner at Bellator 222 on June 14, 2019. She lost the fight via first round TKO.
On July 10, 2021, it was announced that she was no longer under contract with Bellator.

Bare-knuckle boxing

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Hardy was scheduled to make her debut against BKFC Women's Flyweight Champion Christine Ferea in a bantamweight bout at BKFC 61's main event on May 11, 2024. However, due to an injury, the bout was scrapped.
Via an Instagram post in May 2024, Hardy revealed that she pulled out of the scheduled bout because she had "too much brain damage" implying that her career was likely over.

Retirement and lawsuit

Hardy announced her retirement from all combat sports in May 2024, stating she was doing so on the advice of doctors' due to issues relating to concussions and potential brain damage.
In September 2025, Hardy filed lawsuits against two of her former promotors, Boxing Insider and DiBella Entertainment, as well as Lou DiBella, sports equipment manufacturer Everlast Worldwide and its parent company Frasers Group, the New York State Athletic Commission and its medical director Dr Nitin Sethi along with unnamed "John Doe" defendants. The case centered on allegations of liability for Hardy's physical condition, which the lawsuit said included symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and alleged violations of federal and state equal pay laws.

In the media

In 2013, she was the subject of the film "Hardy" focussing on the gender wage gap in boxing.
In 2016, Hardy partnered with Dove on their #MyBeautyMySay campaign.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28LossAmanda SerranoUD10Aug 5, 2023American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S.For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring featherweight titles
27Win24–2 Taynna CardosoMD6Feb 23, 2023Sony Hall, New York City, New York, U.S.
26Win23–2 Calista SilgadoUD6Oct 13, 2022Sony Hall, New York City, New York, U.S.
25Loss22–2 Jessica CamaraUD8May 14, 2021Embassy Suites Nashville SE, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
24Loss22–1 Amanda SerranoUD10Sep 13, 2019Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBO featherweight title;
For vacant WBC interim featherweight title
23Win22–0 Shelly VincentUD10Oct 27, 2018Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.Won vacant WBO featherweight title
22Win21–0 Iranda Paola TorresUD8Apr 21, 2018Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
21Win20–0 Edina KissUD8May 18, 2017Paramount Theater, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Retained WBC International featherweight title
20Win19–0 Edina KissUD8Mar 4, 2017Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Retained WBC International featherweight title
19Win18–0 Shelly VincentMD10Aug 21, 2016Ford Amphitheater, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Won vacant WBC International featherweight title
18Win17–0 Kirstie SimmonsUD8Jun 25, 2016Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
17Win16–0 Anna Donatella HultinTKO4 0:48Apr 16, 2016Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
16Win15–0 Noemi BosquesUD8Dec 5, 2015Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
15Win14–0 Renáta DömsödiRTD6, 2:00Aug 1, 2015Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Retained WBC International super-bantamweight title
14Win13–0 Noemi BosquesSD8May 29, 2015Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
1312–0 Renáta DömsödiNC3, 1:57Apr 11, 2015Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Retained WBC International super-bantamweight title
12Win12–0Elizabeth AndersonUD10Dec 3, 2014BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York City, New York, U.S.
11Win11–0Crystal HoyMD10Oct 15, 2014BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York City, New York, U.S.Won vacant WBC International super-bantamweight title
10Win10–0Jackie TrivilinoTD7 Jun 14, 2014Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
9Win9–0Nydia FelicianoUD8Mar 21, 2014Aviator Sports and Events Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
8Win8–0Christina FuentesSD8Feb 12, 2014Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
7Win7–0Ana Laura GomezTKO2 1:44Nov 9, 2013Aviator Sports and Events Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
6Win6–0Cassie TrostTKO4 1:30Jul 24, 2013Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0Mikayla NebelUD6Apr 4, 2013Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0Peggy MaerzUD4Jan 23, 2013BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York City, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0Ivana ColemanUD4Dec 8, 2012Resorts World Casino, New York City, New York, U.S.
2Win2–0Unique HarrisUD4Oct 24, 2012Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.
1Win1–0Mikayla NebelUD4Aug 2, 2012Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S.