Heavyweight Ardi Ndembo passes away from injuries sustained in bout

Three weeks after being stopped by Nestor Santana in Miami, Congolese heavyweight Ardi Ndembo has passed away as a result of the injuries sustained in the bout.

Fighting as part of the Team Combat League, Ndembo had a flawless 8-0 record before the KO on April 5 left him unconscious for several minutes. Taken by ambulance to the local hospital, Ndembo was placed in an induced coma.

Viva Promotions posted an update to its X account saying, “We at Viva Promotions mourn the loss of Ardi Ndembo, a talented Congolese boxer who tragically passed away after a knockout in a Team Combat League match on April 5. He remained in an induced coma until his untimely death. RIP Ardi Ndembo!”

The format of the comPetition is a team of fighters who fight one or two rounds, accumulating points for their team. Ndembo was comPeting for the Miami Assassins when Nestor Santana of the Las Vegas Hustle knocked him unconscious.

Ardi Ndembo was 27 years old and a father of two from Brazzaville, Congo and after being placed in an induced coma, survived for three weeks with his wife by his side.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by the Team Combat League for the benefit of his children. Floyd Mayweather’s uncle Jeff Mayweather is the coach of the Las Vegas Hustle and said, “Boxing’s a sport where you grow up watching it and loving it, but there’s so much risk involved. Anyone can lose their life from Boxing. When something like this happens, it wakes up the whole entire world.”

The GoFundMe total currently stands at $9,726.