BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lorenzo Hunt will face unbeaten Walter Pugliesi at BKFC 91 on 18 July in Naples, Italy. BKFC’s Cyrus Fees announced the matchup during Friday’s BKFC 89 broadcast.
Hunt will face Pugliesi in a cruiserweight bout. It’s the second straight fight at a higher weight for Hunt, who previously held both the BKFC light heavyweight and cruiserweight titles before he was suspended in June 2024 after a positive steroid test.
Hunt returned from suspension last November with a spectacular knockout of Josh Dyer to reclaim the light heavyweight title. At Knucklemania VI in February, Hunt defeated BKFC middleweight champ Dave Mundell by stoppage in a cruiserweight bout.
The Dyer and Mundell wins cemented Hunt’s reputation as arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in bare knuckle. He’s dominated BKFC’s light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. His only losses are at heayvweight to Gustavo Trujillo and Mick Terrill.
Pugliesi (2-0, 1 KO) has impressed in two BKFC appearances against opponents with a combined record of 10-0.
In his BKFC debut, Pugliesi faced 6-0 Czech fighter Dominik Herold. Pugliesi knocked Herold down twice in round two, and showed good defence and counterpunching in a unanimous decision win. BKFC commentator Chris Lytle praised Pugliesi for his defensive skills and ring IQ after the fight.
Pugliesi faced BKFC UK cruiserweight champ Karl Thompson last October at BKFC Rome. The Italian floored Thompson with a huge left hook in the later half of round one. Thompson got up but was finished by a Pugliesi right, slipping Thompson’s record to 4-1 and establishing the Italian as a fighter to watch at cruiserweight.
Hunt will be heavily favoured but Pugliesi can’t be counted out. He’s shown good defensive skills, countering ability and world-class power in his brief bare knuckle career.
BKFC 89 is the organisation’s third visit to Italy after events in Florence and Rome. The promotion also makes its Uruguay debut and will hold a big event in Philadelphia as part of its busy Summer 2026 schedule.
Photos Courtesy of Bare Knuckle FC
