35-year-old champion boxer Paul Bamba dies just six days after breaking Mike Tyson’s 38-year-old record again

Puerto Rican boxer Paul Bamba, 35, tragically passed away on Friday evening, his manager Ne-Yo confirmed. The cause of death is currently unknown.

Bamba (19-3, 18 KOs) fought 14 times in 2024, winning all fights by knockout. The feat set the record for most knockout wins in a calendar year, breaking Mike Tyson’s 38-year-old record of 11 knockouts set in 1986.

Bamba stopped Rogelio Medina Luna in the sixth round on December 21 and won the WBA cruiserweight gold championship in his last fight, which came just six days before his sudden death.

Bamba’s family announced his death in a statement.

Bamba was scheduled to face Tommy Fury back in November 2022, but the fight was canceled at the last minute by promoters Global Titans after Fury was 6.8 pounds heavier than Bamba. Bamba claimed at the time that he agreed to the fight being held at light heavyweight at 175 pounds, while Fury claimed his contract had included a different maximum weight.

Just a month before his death, Bamba signed a managerial contract with American singer Ne-Yo. After winning the WBA gold title, he called out Jake Paul and offered him a shot at his belt, legitimizing the American superstar’s boxing career.

Paul did not respond to the call but paid tribute to Bamba’s death on social media.

“RIP Paul Bamba,” Paul wrote on X.