Heather Hardy
Heather Hardy | |
---|---|
Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | January 25, 1982
Other names | The Heat |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
Weight | 122 lb (55 kg; 8.7 st) |
Division |
|
Reach | 64 in (163 cm) |
Style | Boxing, Kickboxing |
Stance | Orthodox |
Team | Renzo Gracie Academy (2017–2019)[1] Serra-Longo Fight Team (2019–present)[1] |
Years active | Mixed Martial Arts: 2017–present Boxing: 2010–present |
Professional boxing record | |
Total | 25 |
Wins | 22 |
By knockout | 4 |
Losses | 2 |
No contests | 1 |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 4 |
Wins | 2 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 1 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 2 |
Other information | |
Boxing record from BoxRec | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Heather Hardy (born January 25, 1982) is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist. In boxing, she held the WBO featherweight title from 2018 to 2019. She is also a trainer, living and working in Brooklyn, New York.[2][3][4] As of September 2020, she is ranked as the world's third best active female featherweight by BoxRec[5] and fourth by The Ring.[6]
Early life and family
Heather Hardy was born on January 25, 1982 to John and Linda Hardy[7] and is of Irish descent.[8][9] She has two younger siblings, Kaitlyn and Colin. Hardy had married her highschool sweetheart in 2004, but after some hard times the pair divorced in 2010.[10][4][11] 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.[3] She graduated at the age of 22.
Boxing career
Heather started boxing in 2010 when she was going through a rough patch in her life: she was working a series of miscellaneous jobs to support her daughter, sister, and nephew and finalizing a divorce with her husband who would not pay child support. Within three weeks of training, Hardy, a 28 year old rookie, had her first fight in front of an average sized audience in Long Island, and won. Even though her first fight was just meant for fun, it helped her find out that boxing was her calling. [12] Regarding her first time in the ring, Hardy said "I'm shy by nature, so walking to the ring was like heading to the gas chamber. I'm probably exaggerating the crowd size, but it felt like I was in the Macy's Parade. When I got to my corner, a cousin told me to pretend a tiger was dropped in the ring and only one of us was getting out alive. I pummeled that girl so bad. And for the first time in my life, I felt like something was all mine. Ever since, I've had the passion to beat up the world. I still fight that way". Shortly after, she quickly began winning other kickboxing and Muay Thai titles.[13] Her determination and passion were soon noticed when she caught the eye of a professional trainer who offered to let her train at Gleason's Gym. Hardy began to grow in popularity on the boxing scene and soon became known for her tenacity and determination in and out of the ring. In regards to what others thought about her fame, she mockingly said "'Yeah right, who's this little blonde white girl with the braids?' They knew me quick because I started tearin' ass". Despite her newfound popularity, Hardy remains humble; she can still be found selling tickets before her fights and training clients at Gleason's.[13] In 2016, Hardy made major strides for women's boxing by landing a televised gig on NBCSN against Shelly Vincent.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16] She won the fight via TKO in the third round.[17]
Hardy faced Kristina Williams in a flyweight contest at Bellator 185.[18] She lost the bout via TKO due to a doctor stoppage in the second round after a head kick from Williams shattered her nose.[19]
Hardy faced Ana Julaton on February 16, 2018 at Bellator 194.[20] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[21]
Hardy faced Taylor Turner at Bellator 222 on June 14, 2019. She lost the fight via First Round TKO.
In the media
Following her rise to fame, Hardy has been a persistent voice for women's boxing. In 2013, shortly after women's boxing was declared as a featured sport in the 2012 London Olympics, an independent film director named Natasha Verma tackled the subject of the gender wage gap in boxing through her film "Hardy".[22] She interviewed Hardy on her experiences and talked about how she was changing the face of a generally male dominated sport.[22]
In 2016, Hardy partnered with Dove on their #MyBeautyMySay campaign.[23][24]
Professional boxing record
25 fights | 22 wins | 2 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 4 | 0 |
By decision | 18 | 2 |
No contests | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | Loss | 22–2 (1) | Jessica Camara | UD | 8 | May 14, 2021 | Embassy Suites Nashville SE, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S. | |
24 | Loss | 22–1 (1) | Amanda Serrano | UD | 10 | Sep 13, 2019 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBO featherweight title; For vacant WBAN and interim WBC featherweight title |
23 | Win | 22–0 (1) | Shelly Vincent | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 2018 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, USA | Won vacant WBO featherweight title |
22 | Win | 21–0 (1) | Iranda Paola Torres | UD | 8 | Apr 21, 2018 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | Won NABF featherweight title |
21 | Win | 20–0 (1) | Edina Kiss | UD | 8 | May 18, 2017 | Paramount Theater, Huntington, New York, USA | Retained WBC International female featherweight title |
20 | Win | 19–0 (1) | Edina Kiss | UD | 8 | Mar 4, 2017 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | Retained WBC International featherweight title |
19 | Win | 18–0 (1) | Shelly Vincent | MD | 10 | Aug 21, 2016 | Ford Amphitheater, Coney Island, New York, USA | Retained WBC International featherweight title |
18 | Win | 17–0 (1) | Kirstie Simmons | UD | 8 | Jun 25, 2016 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
17 | Win | 16–0 (1) | Anna Donatella Hultin | TKO | 4 (8) 0:48 | Apr 16, 2016 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
16 | Win | 15–0 (1) | Noemi Bosques | UD | 8 | Dec 5, 2015 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
15 | Win | 14–0 (1) | Renata Domsodi | RTD | 6 (10), 2:00 | Aug 1, 2015 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | Retained WBC International super bantamweight title |
14 | Win | 13–0 (1) | Noemi Bosques | SD | 8 | May 29, 2015 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | |
13 | NC | 12–0 (1) | Renata Dosmodi | NC | 3 (8), 1:57 | Apr 11, 2015 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA | Retained WBC International super bantamweight title |
12 | Win | 12–0 | Elizabeth Anderson | UD | 10 | Dec 13, 2014 | BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York, New York, USA | |
11 | Win | 11–0 | Crystal Hoy | MD | 10 | Oct 15, 2014 | BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York, New York, USA | Won vacant WBC International super bantamweight title |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Jackie Trivilino | TD | 7 (8) | Jun 14, 2014 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Nydia Feliciano | UD | 8 | Mar 21, 2014 | Aviator Sports Complex, Brooklyn, New York USA | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Christina Fuentes | SD | 8 | Feb 12, 2014 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Ana Laura Gomez | TKO | 2 (10) 1:44 | Nov 9, 2013 | Aviator Sports Complex, Brooklyn, New York USA | Won vacant UBF International super bantamweight title |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Cassie Trost | TKO | 4 (6) 1:30 | Jul 24, 2013 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Mikayla Nebel | UD | 6 | Apr 4, 2013 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Peggy Maerz | UD | 4 | Jan 23, 2013 | BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, New York, New York, USA | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Ivana Coleman | UD | 4 | Dec 8, 2012 | Resorts World Casino, Queens, New York, USA | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Unique Harris | UD | 4 | Oct 24, 2012 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Mikayla Nebel | UD | 4 | Aug 2, 2012 | Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, USA |
Mixed martial arts record
4 matches | 2 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 2 |
By submission | 0 | 0 |
By decision | 1 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 2–2 | Taylor Turner | TKO (punches) | Bellator 222 | June 14, 2019 | 1 | 3:53 | New York City, New York, United States | Catchweight (128 lbs) bout. |
Win | 2–1 | Ana Julaton | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 194 | February 16, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Loss | 1–1 | Kristina Williams | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bellator 185 | October 20, 2017 | 2 | 2:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Alice Yauger | TKO (punches) | Bellator 180 | June 24, 2017 | 3 | 4:47 | New York City, New York, United States |
References
- ^ a b Dave Doyle (June 12, 2019). "Heather Hardy discusses death threats after last Bellator fight, gym change to Serra-Longo". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "Superstorm Sandy Brings One Family Closer". NPR.org. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ a b "Meet Heather "The Heat" Hardy: Pro Boxer and Single Mom". Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ a b "Why You Should Root For Rising Boxing Star Heather Hardy". Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ "BoxRec: Female featherweight ratings". boxrec.com. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Ring Women's Ratings". The Ring. September 8, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Heather Hardy Doesn't Back Down from Any Fight | VICE Sports". Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ "Heather Hardy Doesn't Back Down from Any Fight". Fightland.
- ^ "I'm a Fighter". ESPN.
- ^ "Brooklyn Boxer Rises, but Her Feet Stay on the Ground". The New York Times. April 4, 2014.
- ^ PBS Indies (May 5, 2014), The Heat, retrieved August 25, 2016
- ^ New York Daily News (June 9, 2014), Heather "The Heat" Hardy, retrieved August 25, 2016
- ^ a b "Heather Hardy's long struggle for women's boxing finally pays off with TV bout". Boxingjunkie. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ "espnw - Heather Hardy and Shelly Vincent bring women's boxing back to national stage". Espn.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "Elizabeth Phillips to make Invicta FC debut after Heather Hardy fight falls off card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Boxing star Heather Hardy signs with Bellator, will make MMA debut in NYC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Bellator 180 results: Heather Hardy finishes Alice Yauger in pro debut". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "Heather Hardy to fight Kristina Williams at Bellator 185". MMA Fighting. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- ^ Tucker, Bryan. "Bellator 185 Results: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko". mmafighting.com.
- ^ "Heather Hardy vs. Ana Julaton official for Bellator 194 – and future boxing match". MMAjunkie. January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "Bellator 194 results: Heather Hardy outworks Ana Julaton in snoozer". MMAjunkie. February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ a b "18-year-old Victorian produces independent film about boxing, women's fight - Victoria Advocate". Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ Dove US (June 28, 2016), Dove | Beauty on your own terms #MyBeautyMySay, retrieved August 27, 2016
- ^ Dove US (June 28, 2016), Dove | Heather's story #MyBeautyMySay, retrieved August 27, 2016
- Living people
- 1982 births
- Sportspeople from Brooklyn
- American female mixed martial artists
- World boxing champions
- American women boxers
- Flyweight mixed martial artists
- Boxers from New York City
- Featherweight boxers
- Super-bantamweight boxers
- Mixed martial artists from New York (state)
- American people of Irish descent