Heather Hardy, a professional boxer who is sporting a record of 18-0-0, has announced at a Showtime press conference that she will be crossing over from professional boxing to professional MMA. MMA Fighting broke the story.
Hardy is expected to make her Invicta FC and professional MMA debut at Invicta FC 21, which is taking place on January 14. No opponent has been announced as of this writing.
Hardy competes at 122 and 126 pounds as a professional boxer, but when she transitions to MMA, she will be competing at strawweight (115 pounds).
"I need to make money," Hardy said at the Showtime press conference. "I have no idea how I'm going through the rest of this year without getting paid in the last quarter. So I need to do this."
Hardy, who is a single mother, also pointed out that the state of New York has changed its insurance regulations since the approval of MMA, something that has canceled all of her future bouts in the state.
Despite crossing over into MMA, Hardy will remain a pro boxer as well, with her next fight in the boxing ring taking place in March at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Hardy also announced the news via an Instagram post:
