BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing
Bare knuckle fighting organization From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, founded as BYB Extreme Fighting Series (BYB), is a bare knuckle fighting organization founded in 2015 by former MMA fighter Dhafir ("Dada 5000") Harris and Mike Vazquez, former owner of NASCAR team HRT Motorsports.[1] Harris rose to fame from his staging of backyard bare knuckle fights which went viral online and subsequently became the subject of the Billy Corben documentary, Dawg Fight.[2] BYB is an abbreviation of "Back Yard Brawl", a nod to the company's origins.[3] BYB's fights are held in its patented[4] Trigon ring or cage, which it touts as the smallest fighting surface in combat sports.[5]
 | This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. (November 2022) |
| Industry | Bare-knuckle boxing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder |
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| Headquarters | Miami, Florida , United States |
Key people |
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| Website | bybextreme |
In March 2025, Front Office Sports reported that BKB signed a multi-fight deal with Vice to carry live fights, becoming the channel's first live programing as it moved into a heavy sports focus.[6]
In June 2023, beIN SPORTS announced it secured an exclusive media rights deal with BYB in North America to broadcast "Best of BYB" archive shows as well as five live events, making it the first bare knuckle fighting to air live on linear television.[7] In 2024, BYB announced expanded coverage to Fight Network and Fuse.[8]
History
Summarize
Perspective
BYB announced that its premiere event, Battleship I – originally scheduled to take place aboard the deck of the Resorts World Bimini Superfast – would air on June 5, 2015, shortly after Dawg Fight premiered on Netflix.[9] The event was scrapped from the cruise ship with the organization citing inclement weather, and subsequently held indoors at an undisclosed location in Miami.[10]
BYB went on hiatus following Dada 5000's return to the ring at Bellator 149. The promotion would host BYB 2: Brawl for it All in Cheyenne, Wyoming on April 5, 2019, at Cheyenne Ice & Event Center.[11] That event started the current run of numbered BYB events in states including Florida and Mississippi, as well as internationally in London.
Partnership with BKB
In November 2021, BYB announced a talent exchange partnership with UK-based BKB in which each promotion sends fighters overseas to be featured on the other's cards.[12] The series kicked off at BYB 8 with BKB's Barrie Jones knocking out BYB's Luis Melo in the first round. Through 2022, the companies have hosted 15 trans-continental bare knuckle matchups.[13]
On October 16, 2022, the event featured a mix of BYB vs. BYB, BKB vs. BKB, and BYB vs. BKB fights. The show featured a number of firsts including the first sanctioned professional female bare knuckle fight in UK history (Jamie Driver def. Sonya Dreiling),[14] the first female title match in UK history (Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber for the BYB Super Welterweight and Police Gazette Diamond Belt),[15] and Seth Shaffer defeated Carlos Guerra to win the inaugural BYB Welterweight title as well as the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.[16] The event was broadcast live on Stadium.
Acquisition of BKB
On May 8, 2024, it was announced that BYB Extreme had acquired BKB. Founded in 2015 by Jim Freeman and Joe Smith-Brown, BKB had hosted 40 events prior to the acquisition, some which featured fighters from BYB Extreme. Despite BYB acquiring BKB, both Freeman and Smith-Brown will stay with BYB Extreme in an executive capacity and will oversee the continued expansion of BYB Extreme into Europe.[17]
First event in England
BYB Extreme held its first event in England, BYB 12: London Brawl, on October 26, 2022. Aside from being the promotion's first event in the United Kingdom, BYB 12 also featured the first-ever women's bare-knuckle fights, highlighted by a title fight between Jozette Cotton and Miranda Barber for the BYB Women's Super Welterweight Championship.[18]
First UAE event
BYB hosted the first-ever bare-knuckle fighting event in the Middle East with BYB 16: Desert Brawl on March 18, 2023. The event was held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, headlined by a Police Gazette Diamond Belt title fight between Jarome Hatch and Marko Martinjak.[19]
Rebranding to BKB
On February 26, 2025, it was announced that BYB Extreme would rebrand to BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing. BYB Extreme had acquired the Coventry, UK-based promotion BKB in May 2024.[20][21]
Events
| Event | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYB Battleship I | June 5, 2015 |  Miami, Florida |
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| BYB 2: Brawl for It All | April 5, 2019 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheyenne Ice & Event Center |
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| BYB 3: Brawl at the Rock | March 7, 2020 | Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood |
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| BYB 4 | December 3, 2020 | Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood |
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| BYB US vs. Russia | April 10, 2021 | Miami, Florida, BYB Arena |
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| BYB 5 | May 15, 2021 | Miami, Florida, Tamiami Park Fairgrounds |
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| BYB 6 | July 16, 2021 | Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood | |
| BYB 7: Brawl by the River | September 11, 2021 | Miami, Florida, James L. Knight Center |
Jomi Escoboza def. Rene Rodriguez (Cruiserweight) |
| BYB 8: Tis the Season to Brawl | December 18, 2021 | Miami, Florida, James L. Knight Center |
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| BYB 9: Tampa Brawl | March 22, 2022 | Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds |
Jose Fernandez def. JD Burns (Super Middleweight) |
| BYB X: Biloxi Brawl | May 28, 2022 | Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum |
Tony Lopez def. Jordan Mitchell (BYB Heavyweight); Paty Juarez def. Monica Medina (PG Diamond) |
| BYB 11: Brawl in Doral | August 27, 2022 | Doral, Florida, Trump National Doral Miami |
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| BYB 12: London Brawl | October 16, 2022 |  London, England, Indigo at The O2 |
Seth Shaffer def. Carlos Guerra (BYB Welterweight, PG Diamond); Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber (BYB Super Welterweight, PG Diamond) |
| BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All | November 19, 2022 | Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds |
Desmond Green def. Scott McHugh (BYB Middleweight, PG Diamond); DJ Linderman def. Tony Lopez (BYB Heavyweight) |
| BYB 14: Carolina Brawl | December 9, 2022 | Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center |
First BK fight in SC history; Sam Liera def. LT Nelson (BYB Interim Super Middleweight) |
| BYB 15: Broward Brawl | February 3, 2023 | Miramar, Florida, Miramar National Guard Armory |
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| BYB 16: Desert Brawl | March 18, 2023 |  Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium |
First BK fight in UAE/Gulf Region history; Jarome Hatch def. BKB's Marko Martinjak (PG Diamond) |
| BYB Trigon Combat | April 27, 2023 | Costa Mesa, California, The Hangar at OC Fair & Event Center |
First gloved event in BYB history |
| BYB 17: Brawl at Rock Hill | May 13, 2023 | Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center |
Mark Irwin def. Joshua Oxendine (BYB Lightweight); Jozette Cotton (c) def. Jamie Driver (PG Diamond) |
| BYB 18: Police Gazette International Cup | Jun 25, 2023 | London, England, Indigo at The O2 |
Team USA (BYB) def. Team UK (BKB) 6–3; Barrie Jones def. Tommy Turner (PG Diamond); Marko Martinjak (c) def. Jarome Hatch (PG Diamond) |
| BYB 19: Brawl in the Pines | August 10, 2023 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center |
Brandon Birr def. Harold McQueen (BYB Featherweight); Carlos Alexandre def. Andre Ewell (BYB Welterweight); Sam Liera def. Jose Fernandez (BYB Super Middleweight); LT Nelson draw James Connelly (PG Diamond) |
| BYB 20: Brawl on the Bayou | September 16, 2023 | Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum |
Monica Medina def. (c) Paty Juarez (BYB Lightweight, PG Diamond) |
| BYB 21: Fall Brawl | October 21, 2023 | Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center |
DJ Linderman (C) def. Rashad Coulter (BYB Heavyweight) |
| BYB 22: Rocky Mountain Brawl | December 2, 2023 | Denver, Colorado, Stockyard Event Center |
LT Nelson vs. Robert Serna (BYB Super Middleweight); Julio Tanori def. Mark Irwin (c) (BYB Lightweight); Paty Juarez def. Monica Medina (c) (BYB Lightweight) |
| BYB 23: Brawl in the Pines II | January 18, 2024 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center |
Marko Martinjak (c) def. Jarome Hatch (PG Diamond); Cub Hawkins def. Daniel Lerwell (PG Diamond 185) |
| BYB 24: Super Brawl Saturday | February 10, 2024 | Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum |
Ike Villanueva def. DJ Linderman (BYB Heavyweight); Harold McQueen def. Brandon Birr (BYB Featherweight) |
| BYB 25: Brawl on the Bay | April 4, 2024 | Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds |
Cub Hawkins def. Ryan Jett (BYB Light Heavyweight); Agnesa Kirakosian def. Shelby Cannon (BYB Super Flyweight) |
| BYB 26: Mile High Brawl | May 10, 2024 | Denver, Colorado, Stockyards Event Center |
LT Nelson def. Tommy Turner (BYB Middleweight) |
| BYB 27: Brawl in Duval | June 14, 2024 | Jacksonville, Florida, Prime Osborn Convention Center |
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| BYB 28: Bourbon Street Brawl | June 14, 2024 | New Orleans, Louisiana, Alario Center |
Gustavo Trujillo def. Ike Villanueva (BYB Heavyweight and PG World Diamond); Helen Peralta def. Monica Medina (BYB Featherweight) |
| BYB 29: Brawl in the Pines III | August 10, 2024 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center |
Gregoris Cisneros def. Cub Hawkins (BYB Light Heavyweight) |
| BYB 30: Cardiff Brawl | August 17, 2024 |  Cardiff, Wales, Vale Arena |
LT Nelson def. Barrie Jones (PG World Diamond) |
| BYB 31: Stockyard Brawl | August 17, 2024 | Denver, Colorado, Stockyards Event Center |
Khortni Kamyron def. Paty Juarez (BYB Super Lightweight); Julio Tanori def. Mark Irwin (BYB Lightweight) |
| BYB 32: Leeds Brawl | October 12, 2024 |  Leeds, England, John Charles Centre for Sport |
Harry Gigliotti def. Joe Fitzpatrick (BYB Super Lightweight); Liam Rees def. Scott McHugh (BYB Super Welterweight) |
| BYB 33: Wolverhampton Brawl | November 9, 2024 | Wolverhampton, England, The Hangar |
Marko Martinjak def. Brad Scott (BYB Super Cruiserweight); Dan Podmore def. Ryan Barrett (BYB Bridgerweight) |
| BYB 34: Brawl in the Pines IV | December 6, 2024 | Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center |
Gustavo Trujillo def. Richie Leak (Unified BYB-BKB Heavyweight Title); Jamie Driver def. Sonya Dreiling (BYB Welterweight) |
| BYB 35: Albuquerque Brawl | January 11, 2025 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, Revel ABQ |
Javon Wright def. Walter Saravia (Vacant BYB Welterweight) |
| BYB 36: Cardiff Brawl II | February 1, 2025 | Cardiff, Wales, Vale Arena |
Barrie Jones def. Gregoris Cisneros (BYB Light Heavyweight) |
| BYB 37: Denver Brawl IV | February 1, 2025 | Denver Colorado, Stockyards Event Center |
Weight classes
| Division | Upper weight limit |
|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Unlimited |
| Cruiserweight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Light heavyweight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Super middleweight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Middleweight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Super welterweight | 154 lb (70 kg) |
| Welterweight | 147 lb (67 kg) |
| Lightweight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Super featherweight | 130 lb (59 kg) |
| Featherweight | 125 lb (57 kg) |
Current champions
Summarize
Perspective
Men's
As of 2 April 2025
| Weight class | Champion | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Featherweight | Harold McQueen | February 10, 2024 |
| Lightweight | Julio Tanori | December 2, 2023 |
| Super Lightweight | Harry Gigliotti | October 12, 2024 |
| Welterweight | Javon Wright | January 11, 2025 |
| Super Welterweight | Liam Rees | October 12, 2024 |
| Middleweight | LT Nelson | May 10, 2024 |
| Super Middleweight | LT Nelson | December 2, 2023 |
| Light Heavyweight | Barrie Jones | February 1, 2025 |
| Cruiserweight | Cub Hawkins | January 18, 2024 |
| Super Cruiserweight | Marko Martinjak | November 9, 2024 |
| Bridgerweight | Dan Podmore | November 9, 2024 |
| Heavyweight | Gustavo Trujillo | July 13, 2024 |
Women's
As of 2 April 2025
| Weight class | Champion | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Super Flyweight | Agnesa Kirakosian | April 4, 2024 |
| Featherweight | Helen Peralta | July 13, 2024 |
| Lightweight | Paty Juarez | December 2, 2023 |
| Super Lightweight | Khortni Kamyron | August 17, 2024 |
| Welterweight | Jamie Driver | December 6, 2024 |
Police Gazette World Diamond Belt
As of 2 April 2025
| Weight class | Champion | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Lightweight | Monica Medina | September 16, 2023 |
| Women's Super Welterweight | Jozette Cotton | October 16, 2022 |
| Middleweight | Desmond Green | November 19, 2022 |
| Super Middleweight | LT Nelson | August 17, 2024 |
| Light Heavyweight | Cub Hawkins | January 18, 2024 |
| Heavyweight | Gustavo Trujillo | July 13, 2024 |
Partnership with BKB
Summarize
Perspective
In November 2021, BYB announced a talent exchange partnership with UK-based BKB in which each promotion sends fighters overseas to be featured on the other's cards.[22] The series kicked off at BYB 8 with BKB's Barrie Jones knocking out BYB's Luis Melo in the first round. Through 2022, the companies have hosted 15 trans-continental bare knuckle matchups.[23]
On October 16, 2022, the event featured a mix of BYB vs. BYB, BKB vs. BKB, and BYB vs. BKB fights. The show featured a number of firsts including the first sanctioned professional female bare knuckle fight in UK history (Jamie Driver def. Sonya Dreiling),[24] the first female title match in UK history (Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber for the BYB Super Welterweight and Police Gazette Diamond Belt),[25] and Seth Shaffer defeated Carlos Guerra to win the inaugural BYB Welterweight title as well as the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.[26] The event was broadcast live on Stadium.
Acquisition of BKB
On May 8, 2024, it was announced that BYB Extreme had acquired BKB. Founded in 2015 by Jim Freeman and Joe Smith-Brown, BKB had hosted 40 events prior to the acquisition, some which featured fighters from BYB Extreme. Despite BYB acquiring BKB, both Freeman and Smith-Brown will stay with BYB Extreme in an executive capacity and will oversee the continued expansion of BYB Extreme into Europe.[27]
Trigon
In 2015, BYB and its parent company Lights Out Productions filed for a patent on its triangular shaped ring and cage, which they note is the smallest in combat sports. The patent was granted on December 19, 2017.
In 2021, Triller announced that it would host Triad Combat in a triangular ring.[28] BYB in turn filed a lawsuit against alleging copyright infringement.[29]
Notable fighters on roster
Staff
BYB boasts and number of high-profile personalities on its broadcast team including former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, 2-time boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, Ring Announcer 'Big Mo' Kody Mommaerts, Benny Ricardo, and Claudia Trejos. Longtime WWE producer Nelson Sweglar is BYB's broadcast producer.[30] In September 2022, BYB announced the hiring of Gregory Bloom as CEO.[31] In February 2024, BYB announced that it added former WWE Diva Danielle "Summer Rae" Moinet to their broadcast team.[32]
- Ring announcer: Kody Mommaerts
- Interviewer: Danielle Moinet
Commentary team
- Mike Goldberg (Play-by-play)
- Paulie Malignaggi (Analyst)
- Claudia Trejos (Spanish play-by-play)
- Benny Ricardo (Spanish analyst)
Honors
Vazquez, Harris and matchmaker Mel Valenzuela were each inductees into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame's class of 2022. BYB champions Tony Lopez and Paty Juarez were also honored during the 2022 celebration.[33] Malignaggi, Ricardo, Trejos, and Goldberg were inducted as part of the 2023 class.[34]
See also
References
External links
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