BKB Bare Knuckle is back this weekend with its third event of the year. The promotion returns home to the U.S. for its Connecticut debut at the Foxwoods Casino, a venue known for hosting high-profile boxing matches in years past.
A championship tripleheader and eight supporting bouts are scheduled for Saturday’s fight card (subject to change).
As previously mentioned, BKB “Champ-Champ” Cub Hawkins defends his light heavyweight belt against Jesse Ronson in the main event. Hawkins (9-1, 8 KOs) holds the promotion’s light heavyweight and cruiserweight titles.
A Hawkins win could set up a pound-for-pound showdown with super middleweight king Lorawnt “Smash” Nelson. Nelson returns to action next month at BKB in New York. Hawkins and Nelson, along with BKB heavyweight champion Gustavo Trujillo, are regarded as the promotion’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
Two UK fighters challenge for world titles in the other championship bouts. Ash Williams (3-0) of Wales collides with Cuba’s Yampier Ramirez (3-0) for the featherweight belt.
Yorkshire’s Alex Wilson (4-2, 4 KOs) meets Mexico’s Julian Fernandez (2-0, 1 No Contest) for the BKB Super Cruiserweight belt in the other title fight. Wilson has won his last two bouts by stoppage.
BKB 52 Undercard Bouts
The nontitle bouts include a number of fighters familiar to bare knuckle fans.
Usmonov Back in Action
Hard-hitting Bekhzod Usmonov (2-1, 2 KOs) makes his BKB debut.
Usmonov, fighting out of New Mexico’s famed Jackson-Wink Gym, blasted out former BKFC lightweight champ Keith Richardson in his last bout in February 2025.
Sadly, Usmonov, his wife Victoria, and young son Maximus were injured in a car accident last December.
The Tajikistan native faces Luis Guerrero (1-0, 1 KO) in a super lightweight bout.
Tomlinson Takes on Calmus
Former cruiserweight title challenger Zion Tomlinson looks to rebound after a stoppage loss to former boxing contender Yuniesky Gonzalez in January.
Tomlinson (5-5, 5 KOs) takes on fan favourite Zach Calmus (5-5, 4 KOs), a game veteran from Gloucester, Massachusetts, just a couple of hours drive away. Tomlinson has never gone the distance in a bare knuckle fight-all of his wins and losses have ended by stoppage. The charismatic Calmus is known for his colourful ring entrances.
Bubba vs The Bull
UFC and Bellator MMA veteran Bubba McDaniel looks for his first bare knuckle win. McDaniel faces Taylor Bull (4-1, 4 KOs), a rangy Native American fighting out of Hobberna, Alberta, Canada.
McDaniel lost to Chris Camozzi and Tomlinson in his first two gloveless bouts.
Bull (4-1, 4 KOs) knocked out his first four opponents before an upset loss to Joseph Creer at BKFC Michigan last November.
It’s a fight both men need to win to stay relevant.
Linderman Back in Action
Former BYB Heavyweight Champion DJ Linderman is back in action. The veteran replaces Eric Olsen against Braxton Smith (1-0).
A bare knuckle OG who debuted at BKFC 1 in 2018, Linderman (4-2, 3 KOs) defeated fellow MMA veteran Tony Lopez by TKO to win the BYB belt in November 2022.
He successfully defended the title with a stoppage win over UFC veteran Rashad Coulter before he lost the belt to Ike Villanueva.
“Da Protégé” won his last bare knuckle bout by decision over boxing veteran Terrell James Woods.
Linderman has jokingly called out BKB co-founder Dada 5000 after some of his wins. Let’s see if he calls out the backyard brawl orignator if he’s victorious Saturday.
BKB 52: Other Bouts
Four other bouts round out the fight card.
Bare knuckle debutants Jesse Sparks (0-0) and Hassan Graham (0-0) meet in a heavyweight bout.
In a lightweight bout, Greg Bono (0-1) looks for his first win against debuting Matt Denning.
Ozzie Alvarez (0-0) and Armus Guyton Boyd (0-1) collide in a middleweight contest.
And Brandon Desrosier (1-2, 1 KO) looks to snap a two-fight losing streak against newcomer Ryan Venable. Venable is an experienced gloved boxer with 30 professional bouts.
How to Watch BKB 52
BKB 52 takes place this Saturday, 28 March at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
The action begins with the BKB 52 Prelims at 7pm EST (12am Sunday in the UK). The BKB 52 Prelims stream live on the BKB YouTube Channel.
An hour later, at 8pm EST, the BKB 52 main card begins. Fans in the UK can catch the action live and free on the TalkSPORT Boxing YouTube Channel.
North American fans can tune in to Vice Sports or Telemundo Deportes Ahora.
BKB 52: Fight Week Schedule
On Friday, fans can tune in to BKB’s YouTube Channel for a live fighter sit-down starting at 3pm EST (8pm UK time).
All six title fight participants are scheduled to chat with the BKB team. Former boxing champions Yuriorkis Gamboa and Victor Ortiz, who recently signed with BKB, will also take part. Smash Nelson and women’s champ Jamie Driver will also be there.
After the sit-down, the BKB 52 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs will take place.
