Paul Bamba has sadly passed away at 35, just as his boxing career was beginning to pick up steam.

A cause of death was not immediately identified by his team. Bamba recently entered a managerial pact with Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Ne-Yo, who confirmed the tragic news on Friday.

"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched countless lives," Ne-Yo said in a joint statement with Bamba’s family. “He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness.”

Bamba previously overcame homelessness and served a tour in Iraq as a U.S. Marine, where he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon his return home.

He then turned his attention to boxing, to help turn around his life.

The sport never loved him back prior to 2024. He entered the year with a modest 5-3 record and no real career direction.

The New York City-based, Puerto Rico-born boxer was previously best known for the unfair treatment which forced him off a Nov. 2022 undercard to a Floyd Mayweather exhibition in Dubai. Bamba was due to face Tommy Fury, who weighed 181 ½ pounds for their planned light heavyweight affair.

In a miscarriage of justice but also a brutal reality check, event handlers Global Titans allowed Fury to remain on the card and sent Bamba and his team packing.

With the assistance of manager Sarah Fina and Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna—a fringe contender and aspiring promoter—he was finally able to find his niche in the sport in the past year.

Bamba racked up 14 wins in as many fights in 2024, all inside the distance and none which lasted longer than six rounds. The idea was to follow the blueprint laid out by the pre-champion version of Mike Tyson during the infancy of his career.

The pinnacle of his career was reached in his most recent fight just six days ago. Bamba knocked out former title challenger Rogelio Medina in a Dec. 21 WBA ‘Gold’ cruiserweight title fight.

In theory, the belt should have positioned Bamba for a shot at the real title. Given his place in the sport, Bamba hoped to use that designation as a means to lure global icon Jake Paul.

“Real life Rocky story,” Bamba repeatedly told The Ring of his desire to land that dream assignment.

It was an attainable goal given Paul’s relationship with the WBA. Most Valuable Promotions—co-founded and headed by Paul and business partner Nakisa Bidarian—has held events in in conjunction with the annual WBA convention two years in a row in Orlando. Paul has repeatedly stated his desire to win a cruiserweight title.

Bamba was willing to provide that path, rather than just stick out his hand and beg for a payday. That part wasn’t in his nature. Anything he has achieved came from his tireless work ethic.

“More than anything, he was a tremendous individual that inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination,” noted Ne-Yo. “We are heartbroken by his passing.”