World champion boxer Paul Bamba has tragically died at the age of 35 days after making history by telling Jake Paul to “come and get it.”

Last weekend, Bamba captured the WBA Gold Cruiserweight world title in Recent Jersey after defeating Rogelio Medina.

The victory marked his 14th knockout of 2024, breaking the record previously held by the legendary Mike Tyson in the heavyweight division. The Puerto Rican-born American boxer has a career record of 19-3 and recently faced Jake Paul following his triumph over Medina.

However, just six days after his victory, he was found dead.

Bamba, whose career has been supported by American singer Ne-Yo’s recently established boxing management company, is leaving the American boxing community in deep shock.

Ne-Yo and Bamba’s family released a heartbreaking statement: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose airy and love touched the lives of countless people.”

The statement further praised his extraordinary qualities, stating: “He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition for greatness. But most of all, he was an amazing person who inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination.”

Mourning his untimely loss, they asked for privacy, adding: “We are devastated by his death and kindly ask for privacy and understanding at this hard time as we navigate our grief together.”

Bamba was trained by Malik Scott, married to CBS Sports anchor Kate Abdo and was scheduled to fight Tommy Fury in November 2022 before the fight was canceled.

Bamba took the boxing world by storm in 2024, fighting every month except September and sometimes facing multiple opponents in a month.

On Christmas Day, Bamba wrote on Instagram: “This year I set myself a goal. That’s exactly what I did! It wasn’t uncomplicated, there were many obstacles that I managed to overcome and maintain the path I had chosen regardless of extenuating circumstances. 14 fights 14 knockouts, ending with the title of WBA GOLD world champion in the cruiserweight weight. Blessed to have my family, my team and all my supporters with me if you have what some might call a “weird goal.” Anyone who thinks they are not as brave as you, prove people wrong!”

After Bamba’s latest victory, his manager Ne-Yo took to Instagram to praise his client: “PAUL BAMBA made history last night! Breaking Mike Tyson’s record, 14 fights in one year, EVERYTHING ENDS IN Knockouts! Ending the year with the cruiserweight title WORLD TITLE! And the best is yet to come. Congratulations, my boy! It’s an honor to be your manager. Let’s continue!

Dominating in the ring with an unblemished streak in 2024, Bamba issued a challenge to Jake Paul following his latest victory, stating: “[Jake Paul] you can come to get it, you can fight for it or whatever, you can keep doing trick fights.

“At the end of the day, I put in a lot of work. You could say you took boxing seriously and yes, you made a lot of money, but you didn’t make anything from boxing.”

“If you think about how I started, compared to how things are going now, I didn’t wait for the opportunity that I created,” he continued. “And I went out and grabbed it by the horns, so to speak, and this year I did what I had to do. Look at the facts: 14 fights, 14 KOs in one year, how many belts do I have here?

Paul also addressed the skepticism among his opponents, saying: “I know I’m the best in the world and I will [the] world champion. The line is long and they can buy a ticket and get in line to see who I want to fight next.”

Bamba, who was scheduled to face Tommy Fury in a highly anticipated fight in Dubai in 2022, expressed frustration after the event was canceled due to Fury being seven pounds overweight. “It seems like they were planning to screw me all along,” he told The Mirror. “My contract said we had to be the same weight and they were going to give me another option like they did to Tommy.”

Former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez has suggested that a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Jake Paul may be more rumor than reality. Not seen in the Octagon since a bulky loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021 that left him with a broken leg, McGregor is preparing for his long-awaited return.

Earlier this year, he was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler, but an injury sidelined him again.

Despite his desire to re-enter the UFC battlefield, McGregor has not hesitated to enter the boxing ring for high-profile fights.

The brash Irish fighter, known for his vigorous online presence, recently caused a stir on social media by challenging WWE star Logan Paul. He wrote online: “The rumors about the fight with Topuria are false. I have preliminary arrangements with the Ambani family that I will fight Logan Paul at a boxing event in India. I agreed. Then I will strive to return to the octagon.”

However, now there is a rumor that negotiations are actually turning towards a fight with Logan’s brother, Jake Paul.

McGregor has toyed with the idea of ​​fighting Logan Paul, but his constant bickering with Logan’s brother Jake seems to suggest a boxing match with “The Problem Child” is more likely.

Alvarez, McGregor’s former opponent, noted the complexity of the situation surrounding McGregor leaving the UFC for such a fight.

I’m talking to MMA fightAlvarez noted: “Realistically, I think he has two fights left on his UFC contract. I just know how demanding it is, especially when you’re so valuable to the company. I wasn’t as valuable as Conor, but when I was basically Bellator’s main fighter, I know how demanding it is to get out of those contracts. They don’t make it uncomplicated.

“For him to earn hundreds of millions of dollars for the company, I don’t think it will be an uncomplicated exit. I think he has two fights left in the UFC and I’m not sure how aged Conor is, but he’s not getting any younger so it’s going to be demanding for him to get those fights and move on to another contract, so realistically I don’t know if he would be able to fight against BKFC, and if so, maybe when he is older.”

Although McGregor needs a green lithe from the UFC due to his current contract obligations, there is a glimmer of hope for negotiations as both the UFC and WWE share the same parent company, TKO. However, even with a potential deal on the table, staging a fight with Paul could still pose a significant challenge.

Boxing heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk has admitted wearing a phony Rolex purchased in Turkey for just £80, despite pocketing a staggering £86m for his recent rematch with Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian sensation, who secured his position as the world’s top heavyweight with a unanimous decision victory over Fury in Saudi Arabia, is sporting a phony watch rather than the real thing.

Eschewing luxury, Usyk admitted to buying an imitation during his internship in Turkey. “I showed off my watch a bit and showed the cameraman. It’s a Chinese Rolex,” he revealed in an interview shared with Home of Fight.

Despite earning around £30m for his first fight with Fury in 2023, he couldn’t resist the lure of a seaside opportunity: ‘I was in Turkey training and saw guys selling Rolexes on the beach. I thought if I bought one, no one would guess it was phony, so I bought it for $100 (£80).”

Usyk has an unconventional approach to wealth, especially compared to the likes of Floyd Mayweather, who flaunt their wealth. His net worth is estimated at around £45 million, yet this titan of the ring channels his humanitarian efforts through the Usyk Foundation, supporting Ukrainian forces and citizens during the conflict with Russia.

Having had to evacuate his home due to the invasion, Usyk and his family faced immediate personal hardships, and his children experienced the terror of war.

He said: “My children ask, ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’

“I don’t know how to answer this question. My family is not in Ukraine now, but many people I know and many of my close friends are in this country.

“I am in contact with them every day, I ask for the latest information. I didn’t want to leave the country. I want to live there anyway. I will return to Ukraine immediately after the fight.”