Hardy’s route into boxing was far removed from the traditional path.

She had already graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York with a degree in forensic psychology and idolised the late Supreme Court justice and women’s rights pioneer Ruth Bader Ginsburg before she even conceived the idea of a career in boxing.

Hardy knew she was a “powerful woman” but was unsure how to put her powers to best use.

Trying to make ends meet as a single mum and working anywhere between two to six jobs at one time, Hardy first stepped into a boxing gym in 2010 as a way to get a break from the daily grind. It soon became a passion and potentially a way out as she strived to provide a better quality of life for her daughter.

In April 2011, Hardy, aged 29, competed in her first amateur contest and became the US national featherweight champion just two months later.

After making her professional debut in the summer of 2012, Hardy embarked on a six-year unbeaten run, spanning 23 contests and culminating in a victory against Shelly Vincent for the WBO featherweight title at the Theater, inside Madison Square Garden.

She also challenged herself in the world of mixed martial arts and competed four times under the banner of promotion Bellator – winning two and losing two.

A first defeat in the boxing ring came at the hands of Serrano, a seven-division world champion, when they first met in 2019 and she retired with an overall record of 24 wins, three losses and one no-contest.

Hardy achieved that success inside the ring despite facing challenges few could ever imagine or would wish to experience in her personal life.

“There was everything from hurricanes to homelessness and house fires,” she says.

“We were on the street with my parents living in a church basement, anything that could happen did happen.

“But I’m sitting here because I have faith in God and I’ve walked with him this entire path. It’s a simple idea that you walk right, you do right and you don’t look back. You don’t give up, you don’t stop and what you deserve will come.”

BRITISH champion boxer Ben Whittaker was hauled away by airport security in Saudi Arabia for smashing a fan’s phone.

It came hours after the former Olympian, 27, drew his bout with Liam Cameron at the Kingdom Arena in farcical fashion on Saturday, having injured his leg on toppling over the ropes.

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He was taken out in a wheelchair before punching a wall in frustration prior to being taken to hospital.

IBF light-heavyweight champion Whittaker was spotted walking through security at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh just after midnight this morning with his ankle bandaged.

A witness, who was at the fight and booked on the same Saudi Airlines flight to Heathrow, said he was in duty free when he saw the confrontation.

He told The Sun: “I spotted Ben Whittaker coming through security and then a fan who had a boxing T-shirt on went up with his phone and went to take a photo.

“Ben said ‘don’t take no photos of me’ and snatched the phone out of his hand and smashed it straight on the floor.

“Ben stepped towards him, looked like he was gonna punch him and some of Ben’s team jumped in between them and it got really heated – they were shouting at each other.”

The witness, who did not wish to be named, said airport security detained the pair.

He added that both men – with the fan aged around 30 and wearing merchandise from the fight – initially had their passports taken off them.

“It caused a big scene,” he continued.

“Ben said he would pay for the phone and they both were made to write down their details… and they were allowed to go on the flight.”

It is understood the pair quickly calmed down and swapped details.

The witness said, strangely, the pair were taken into a nearby coffee shop and wrote their details while sitting side by side at the same table.

Whittaker offered to cover the cost of the phone and they parted on good terms.

“They literally did it at the Costa or Starbucks in front of everyone,” he said.

The witness said Whittaker appeared to be hobbling a bit and his ankle was bandaged at the time of the altercation.

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“When he went to the fan, he sort of forgot and had no problem running up to him. His face was lumpy and bruised from the fight.”

He said Whittaker was “fuming at first” but then calmed down once security were involved.

“He looked quite chilled out towards the end,” he added.

Whittaker told The Sun: “This was a really unfortunate event and I’m grateful to the gentleman that he sat down to talk about it straight afterwards and accepted my apology.

“Unfortunately I can’t comment further on the alleged video recording as I have not seen it.

“In any case, we are in touch about replacing his phone and coming along to a future event as our guest.”

During Saturday’s match, Whittaker and Cameron fell over the top rope at the end of the fifth round.

Cameron made his way back to his feet but Whittaker stayed down, clutching his right leg.

The fight – part of the Riyadh Season – IV Crown Showdown card – went to a technical decision with all three judges unable to come to an agreement.

Both boxers were then awarded a 58-57 score by two judges and 58-58 even by a third, resulting in the split decision draw.

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By Kostas Lianos, Digital Sports Reporter

IT was back in 2019 when Greece legend Vasilis Torosidis – the heir to Euro 2004 hero Giourkas Seitaridis – retired from international duty after 101 caps.

A giant void was left behind at right-back, many talented players tried to step up – and none of them could fill those big boots.

But, soon enough, I started to hear whispers about a Premier League ace with Greek heritage who’s a starter week-in and week-out…

That was none other than George Baldock, born in Buckingham on March 9, 1993, to English parents but qualified for Greece through his grandmother.

And what a season he was having. The right-back starred for Sheffield United as they surprised the Prem in the 2019-20 campaign – their first in 12 years – by finishing in the top half of the table.

Baldock was among their standout players as he registered a staggering 3,420 minutes played – the joint highest along with the likes of Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk.

The defender was keen to make the big step to the international stage with his grandmother’s homeland – and it didn’t take long until he shook hands with the Greek football federation (EPO) chiefs.

However, a long and arduous paperwork slog stood in the way – with the then Sheffield United star claiming Covid-19 and Brexit slowed things down.

Greece finally got the right-back they were begging for for years as Baldock made his debut on June 2, 2022 in a Nations League clash at Northern Ireland as a late substitute.

It didn’t take long until the English-born ace owned the right flank at the back and impressive performances followed.

Perhaps none compare to the Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June 2023 when Baldock did the unthinkable and kept Kylian Mbappe quiet for 104 MINUTES, despite being injured and playing through “unimaginable” pain.

I still remember speaking to then-Greece manager Gus Poyet about his player’s stunning performance, and I will never forget the big smile the Chelsea legend had on his face.

Poyet reminded me of a proud father as he took me through the injury hell the full-back endured before squaring up against perhaps the world’s best player for his country.

A beaming Poyet told me: “Against the Republic of Ireland [three days beforehand] – and now that it is finished I can say it – after 20 minutes he had a very bad twist in his ankle, very bad. He was very close to come out. I asked him, ‘Can you hold until half-time?’

“At half-time his ankle was very, very swollen. He asked for a strapping and he asked me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we’ll let you know. And he had an unbelievable second half running up and down and being outstanding.

“You don’t imagine the ankle after the game. You don’t imagine the ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day-and-a-half later you need to play against Mbappe.

“Ninety per cent of people will think, no chance. And I keep talking to him, individually. And he keeps saying to me, ‘Coach I’m gonna be there no worries’.

“And he didn’t play 20 minutes, he didn’t play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of injury time against Mbappe.”

It’s easy to understand how loyal Baldock was to every team he ever played for during his 15-year career, just by looking at his stats.

The Greek ace started his career at MK Dons in 2009 where he amassed a staggering 125 appearances throughout an eight-year stint that also saw him playing on loan for Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United.

The defender joined Sheffield United in 2017 and registered a whopping 219 appearances in seven years that also saw him helping his team achieve two Premier League promotions.

Baldock’s work ethic and commitment was no different in Greece as he proudly stated two years ago: “To play for the national side is a great honour and a lot of pride involved for me and my family.

“Representing my country through my late grandmother, it’s a very proud moment for me and my family. I love the country and I will fight for every success”

Baldock never played for England at any level, but he always competed like a lion and he proved it on Sunday in his last ever match when he started for Panathinaikos, whom he joined in the summer, against eternal rivals Olympiacos in perhaps the most intense derby in Europe.

He served his team with honour as he helped them pick up a valuable point in a goalless draw against their in-form foes, who had just played their best game of the season with a 3-0 win over Braga in the Europa League a few days earlier.

He only managed 12 caps for Greece before his sudden and tragic death at the age of 31 on Wednesday in Athens.

But his fighting spirit and charisma at right-back with the white and blue, as well as his remarkable run in the Premier League and the Championship, show that he is leaving a legacy behind for many Greek and English fans to look up to.

MMA Fighting has DWCS results for all the action from season 8, week 10 of UFC’s Contender Series on Tuesday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.

In the main event, Nick Klein and Heraldo Souza will clash in a middleweight contest. Klein, who is 5-1 in his career, has picked up two straight wins. Souza, who is 9-1-1, has won has past three fights via finishes.

Undefeated flyweights Luis Gurule and Nick Piccininni will clash in the co-main event.

Check out the DWCS results for season 8, week 10 below.

Main card (ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)

Nick Klein vs. Heraldo Souza

Luis Gurule vs. Nick Piccininni

Antonio Monteiro vs. Yadier DelValle

Julieta Martinez vs. Leslie Hernandez

Mohamed Ado vs. Jonathan Micallef