“I definitely picked the toughest person in the group for a reason.” Heather Hardy is ready to make her BKFC debut against Christine Ferea

By: Sean Crose

“I’m coming to the end of my career,” former WBO featherweight champion Heather Hardy told me over the phone. “I really want to make the most of my last year of fighting.” Hardy, who has been at the forefront of women’s boxing for a decade now, is certainly looking for new worlds to conquer. This May, the Brooklynite will make his debut with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Her rival? None other than undefeated flyweight champion Christine Ferea. “I reached out to Christine,” Hardy continued. “She has always supported me throughout my career.” Ferea is also a big challenge for BKFC that Hardy can see. Not that she minded.

“I definitely picked the hardest one of the bunch for a reason,” admitted Hardy. “I’m looking for places where money fights happen.” As Hardy says: “When it comes to fighting, it’s about making money.” And success allowed Hardy to have a full-time career as a boxer. For Hardy, it’s as simple as that. She frankly stated: “I didn’t start boxing because I love the sport. “I started boxing to get my daughter out of the old neighborhood.” With her daughter now in college, the outspoken Hardy has a few more goals she wants to accomplish, one of which is succeeding in the tough-as-nails world of bare-knuckle boxing.

“There are a lot of differences,” Hardy said, comparing regular boxing to bare-knuckle boxing. “When you get injured (in bare-knuckle boxing), you are more susceptible to broken skin,” she said. “Having more injuries can be detrimental to winning or losing.” For Hardy, bare-knuckle fighting is an all-out brawl, while “boxing is a gentleman’s sport.” However, when asked directly what her favorite sport to compete in is, Hardy left no doubt. “Boxing,” she said, “because my father helped me see the beauty in it.”

Hardy also appreciates the general attitude in boxing, as opposed to bare-knuckle boxing, or even MMA (which she has also competed in professionally). “I would say in my history of involvement as a coach and fighter…boxing is mostly about mom and dad running the show. Go around and find out. They don’t play games.” One of the most interesting things about Hardy is her openness. She doesn’t hold back. Perhaps most importantly, however, the veteran fighter is a realist.

“Will I love this sport?” she asked rhetorically about joining BKFC. “Sure is not.” I asked her if she had any intention of returning to MMA. “I’m working out,” she said. “I’m back in MMA.” And of course there’s boxing. Does Hardy, who was last seen in the ring in August unsuccessfully trying to knock Amanda Serrano out of her undisputed championship, still crave success in the ring? “WBC Green Belt,” she said simply. “WBC at the end of the year.” And when her fighting days end? “I had thoughts,” Hardy said. “Will I open a gym, will I become a manager? I don’t see myself falling out of any particular field.”

While this may indeed be Hardy’s last year competing professionally, it’s hard to imagine her being completely out of the fight game. At this point, she’s simply too big a part of it.

The Christine Ferea-Heather Hardy fight will take place on May 11 at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. It will be streamed live on BKFC+