BKB Bare Knuckle announced today it has acquired Bad to the Bone, a top UK bare knuckle promotion based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Bad to the Bone owner Stefan Hanks will join BKB as its Chief Operating Officer for the UK (COO) and “lead matchmaker”.
“The addition of Bad To The Bone is a natural evolution for BKB as we continue to grow the sport globally. Stefan Hanks has built a fighter-first promotion that’s delivered high-level action and developed real talent for years,” said BKB CEO David Tetreault.
“Joining forces with BKB feels like the perfect next step to elevate our sport even further. I’m proud of the legacy we’ve built over eight years and thrilled to bring our champions and talent to the global BKB stage,” said Hanks, the new BKB UK COO and matchmaker.
It’s another huge move for BKB Bare Knuckle, formed from a merger between Florida-based BYB Extreme and the original BKB promotion in May 2024. After acquiring BKB, BYB soon rebranded itself as BKB Bare Knuckle.
The merger expands BKB’s fighter roster and also its fight library. Bad to the Bone was a successful regional promotion that developed world-class bare knuckle fighters such as “The Smoke from Stoke” Simey Doherty. Doherty, who recently defeated former title challenger Kallum Skhane, holds an impressive bare knuckle record of 8-2 with wins over veterans Ionel Levitchi and Dean “Smudger” Smith.
The BKB press release mentions BKB has events planned for Wembley Arena and Manchester in 2026. According to Tetreault, bare knuckle fight fans can expect big things from BKB next year.
“2026 will be our most ambitious year yet – more shows, more fights, and more opportunities to showcase why bare-knuckle boxing is the purest and most exciting form of combat sports,” he said.
The next BKB event in the UK takes place on 21 February in London. BKB Bridgerweight Champion and pound-for-pound candidate Marko Martinjak defends his crown against former heavyweight champ and UFC veteran Ike Villanueva.
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