Following a massive event in Leeds that featured Paulie Malignaggi’s ring return, BKB Bare Knuckle heads back to the States for a huge fight card.
BKB 48: Four Kings takes place at the Charles F Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The event streams live on Vice TV in the US and the Talksport Boxing YouTube Channel in the UK.
As previously mentioned, “The Welsh Wrecking Machine” Barrie Jones challenges LT Nelson for the BKB Super Middleweight Title. It’s a rematch of an August 2024 bout Nelson won by stoppage.
Gustavo Trujillo defends his BKB World Heavyweight Title against combat sports veteran Tony Johnson Jr. And Jarod Grant defends his lightweight crown against junior lightweight champion Jon Barnard.
More bouts have been added to the stacked BKB 48 card, including a fourth world title fight.
Fuentes and Fernandez to Battle for BKB Super Cruiser Title
“The Emperor of BKB” Marko Martinjak recently abdicated his super cruiserweight title. BKB matchmaker Mel Valenzuela has booked a fight for the vacant title with international flavour.
Unbeaten Yordan “Cuban Crocodile” Fuentes and Mexico’s Julian Fernandez will battle for the vacant belt.
Fuentes brings a 4-0 (2 KOs) record to the dance. His most notable win is a split decision over knockout artist Jarome “The Hatchet” Hatch in June 2024.
Fernandez (2-0, 2 KOs) has won both his bare knuckle bouts by first-round stoppage. The Mexican fighter is a 20-fight professional boxing veteran, posting a record of 16-4. This past August, “Pit Bull Jr” stopped BKB veteran Kevin Greenwood.
“Hurricane” vs “Hatchet”: Villanueva Continues Comeback Against Dangerous Hatch
Former BKB World Heavyweight Champion Ike “Hurricane” Villanueva continues his comeback after back-to-back knockout losses against Trujillo and Kamil Sokolowski.
Villanueva, now campaigning at bridgerweight, scored a first-round KO over veteran Eric Olsen in June.
He faces a more formidable foe at BKB 48. Opposing the UFC veteran is knockout artist Jarome “The Hatchet” Hatch.
A 50-fight MMA veteran, Hatch 6-3 (6 KOs) has found a new home in bare knuckle, and been the giver and receiver of some brutal knockouts.
Hatch holds knockout wins over former champion Dan Lerwell and current bridgerweight king Marko Martinjak. The win over Lerwell came in just 13 seconds.
JAROME HATCH KOs DANIEL LERWELL IN SECONDS 😱#BYB35 #BYBExtreme #BareKnuckle pic.twitter.com/QpNp6hd7xZ
— BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) January 12, 2025
The upset win over Martinjak in March 2023 led to a trilogy between the then-rivals. Martinjak avenged the defeat three months later before stopping Hatch again to win the rubber match in January 2024.
Hatch enters the Villanueva showdown on a three-fight win streak. Either he or Villanueva could earn a title opportunity against Martinjak with a win.
Yuniesky Gonzalez vs Zion Tomlinson
Former boxing standout Yuniesky Gonzalez returns to The Mighty Trigon at BKB 48.
Gonzalez (1-0, 1 KO) meets former title challenger Zion Tomlinson Sr (5-4, 5 KOs) in a cruiserweight bout.
Gonzalez was a solid light heavyweight in boxing, facing the likes of Jean Pascal, Gilberto Ramirez and Andre Direll during a 12 plus year career.
He won his first bare knuckle fight by one round KO. He’ll step up in competition for his second fight against Tomlinson Sr.
Tomlinson Sr unsuccessfully challenged Cub Hawkins for the cruiserweight title last year, losing by fifth-round stoppage.
He bounced back with a first-round win over MMA veteran Bubba McDaniel. A win over the well-regarded Gonzalez puts him back in the title fight conversation.
BKB 48: Other Bouts
Four other bouts are currently scheduled for the BKB 48 fight card (subject to change).
Featherweight prospect Ash Williams (2-0) of Wales faces Jorge Bargallo (1-2).
BKFC veteran Brandon Shavers makes his BKB debut. Shavers (2-1) faces Lancashire’s Dan Catlin (0-0), a 12-fight pro boxing veteran.
Jose Malespin debuts against winless Nate Williams (0-2) in a featherweight bout.
Unbeatens Angel Keihl (1-0) and Katherine Connor (1-0) collide in the only women’s bout of the evening.
