Barrie Jones isn’t looking for an easy touch after his stoppage loss to LT Nelson.
“The Welsh Wrecking Machine” will move up in weight to challenge BYB Light Heavyweight Champion Gregoris Cisneros on 1 February in Cardiff. The title fight headlines BYB 36: Cardiff Brawl II.
On the Comeback Trail
Jones was considered bare knuckle’s best pound-for-pound fighter before the Nelson loss. He’d convincingly defeated BKB legend Jimmy Sweeney twice, and knocked out nearly every opponent. Jones went into the fight against Nelson with a 10-0 (9 KOs) bare knuckle record. Seven of his victims failed to see round two.
In Nelson, Jones was matched with another well-regarded champion. Jones started well, wobbling Nelson early in round one. Nelson wore Jones down in round two with brutal body punching and the clinch, before stopping the legend in round three. (Full BYB 30 Results here)
Jones mentioned retirement in a postfight interview. He’s changed his mind. Moving up in weight to face a young champion looking to make his mark in the sport.
Vicious Venezuelan
Venezuela’s Cisneros enters the Jones fight with a record of 4-1 (3 KOs) with two first-round knockouts. His only loss is by disqualification for hitting a downed opponent.
Cisneros has won three straight since the DQ debacle, including a one-punch knockout over Florida bare knuckle legend Rene “Whiteboy” Rodriguez.
In August, “The Legacy of God” took on UFC vet and defending champ Cub Hawkins for the BYB Light Heavyweight Title. It was a wild shootout and one of 2024’s best fights. Cisneros knocked Hawkins down an amazing seven times, going down twice himself, before prevailing by 5th round TKO.
He now travels across the Atlantic to Cardiff for his first defence against Jones in the Wales fighter’s back garden. Jones has the better boxing skills but Cisneros can turn a fight with a single punch. The Venezuelan also has a champion’s heart, getting up from knockdowns to knock out Rodriguez and Hawkins.
Cardiff Brawl II
The 1 February event takes place at the Vale Arena, the same venue where Nelson defeated Jones before a sellout crowd.
Wales is a hotbed for bare knuckle fighting. It’s no surprise Welsh fighters feature prominently on the undercard.
Welsh heavyweight Dorian “Darkfruits” Darch, so nicknamed because of his fondness for Strongbow Dark Fruits cider, faces hard hitting Gary Slator.
Former EBU Women’s champion Ashley Brace makes her BYB and bare knuckle debut. Wales’s Brace went unbeaten in nine pro boxing fights before hanging up the gloves in 2018.
Unbeaten prospect Kallum Skhane (1-0), a former amateur boxing standout from Wales, is scheduled for action.
UFC veteran Jack Marshman and BKFC vet Ellis Shepherd are also confirmed for separate bouts. England’s Shepherd makes his BYB debut after signing with the organisation earlier this year.
More fights are to be announced (fight card subject to change).
Tickets for BYB 36: Cardiff Brawl II are now available from Eventbrite. The event also streams live on BKB World TV pay-per-view.
