BYB holds its first 2025 event this Friday 10 January in the fighting city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Boxing legends Bob Foster and Johnny Tapia hailed from Albuquerque, and the city is also known as a magnet for high-level MMA fighters, with the Jackson-Winkeljohn Academy an assembly line for top cagefighting talent.
Friday marks BYB’s first visit to Albuquerque and the promotion has put together a noteworthy fight card. BYB 35: Albuquerque Brawl includes two title matches plus a former pro boxing contender’s debut.
As previously mentioned, BYB super middleweight champ LT “Smash” Nelson risks his title against Britain’s James Connelly in the main event. The two fought to a draw in 2023.
In the co-feature, Javon Wright of the US and Argentina’s Walter Saravia meet for the promotion’s vacant welterweight belt.
Yuniesky Gonzalez Makes Bare Knuckle Debut
Former boxing prospect Yuniesky Gonzalez makes his BYB debut against fellow newcomer Martez McGregor.
The Cuban-born Gonzalez began his boxing career with 16 straight wins before losing decisions to former champion Jean Pascal and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy. He continued on, winning 5 more bouts but also suffering stoppage defeats to former world champions Oleksandr Gvozdyk , Andre Dirrell, and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Gonzalez’s last bout took place in 2023. His pro boxing record stands at 21-6 (17 KOs).
He’s recently been competing in the Team Combat League, a team-based boxing competition.
Gonzalez’s opponent McGregor also boxes professionally but has competed at a lower level.
Fireworks Alert: Hatch vs Lerwell
Two exciting bare knuckle veterans also do battle in Albuquerque.
Jarome Hatch faces Dan Lerwell in a cruiserweight Bout.
The hard-hitting Hatch scored a huge upset in Dubai in March 2023, knocking out highly-regarded Marko Martinjak to win the Police Gazette belt.
Martinjak rebounded to knock out Hatch at BYB 18 in London to regain the title, before ending the rivalry with another knockout win in last year’s rubber match.
Hatch looks to get back in the mix by beating Lerwell, a standout from the now defunct BKB promotion. Lerwell comes off a stoppage win at BYB 30 last August in his home country of Wales.
Both fighters are known as guys who like to bang. It’s probably ending early.
BYB 35: Other Bouts
In other action, MMA veteran Nate Williams takes on boxer Chaise Nelson.
Former title challenger Carlos “El Diamante” Guerra makes his BYB return against debuting local lad Cole Griego.
Unbeaten heavyweights Cody East and Dylan Rush collide.
Locals Nickolas Whitmore and Henry Barahona face Giovanni Rosales and Matthew Maestas respectively.
BYB 35: How to Watch
Friday night’s event begins at 6pm local time, which is 1am Saturday morning UK time.
The live broadcast begins an hour later, approximately 2am Saturday in the UK.
UK fans can catch the action on BKB World pay-per-view for £12.99.
North American fans can watch on Fuse TV, The Fight Network and BeIN Sports.
Fans outside the UK and North America can catch the action on BKB World pay-per-view, if their local broadcasters aren’t carrying the event.
