, external<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n“When you have a concussion, a piece of your brain dies and you never get it back. Imagine that?<\/p>\n
“In ten years I’ve had too much brain damage. I can’t get any more or else I won’t be able to see. No running, no jogging, no jumping rope, and no getting hit in the head.”<\/p>\n
Hardy has not officially announced her retirement but confirmed she will not be making her Bare Knuckle FC (BKFC) debut on Saturday, 11 May.<\/p>\n
She was due to be fighting BKFC flyweight champion Christine Ferea at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.<\/p>\n
The American made her professional boxing debut in 2012 and held the WBO featherweight world title in 2018 before losing to Serrano the following year in their first bout.<\/p>\n
She made her professional MMA debut at Bellator 180 against Alice Yauger in June 2017.<\/p>\n
“I had to choose between my brain and my fight,” Hardy added in her post on social media. “So I’m blessed to be alive but gutted.<\/p>\n
“I hadn’t told anyone how bad it was, not my boyfriend not my coaches.<\/p>\n
“I thought I could make it through the ten-minute fight, but after a very light sparring session I couldn’t see for two days.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t eat or sleep Friday to Monday, and I knew I was too weak to do this. After finally seeing a doctor, he said I’ve had too many concussions.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n