BKB World Cruiserweight Champion Cub Hawkins is the new opponent for Barrie Jones at BKB’s massive Night of Four Kings event on 22 November in Florida.
Hawkins replaces Lorawnt “Smash” Nelson, the BKB Super Middleweight World Champion, who withdrew because of injury.
The Jones-Hawkins bout will be for Jones’ BKB World Light Heavyweight Title. It’s a chance for Cub to regain the light heavyweight belt. He lost the belt in a wild shootout to Gregoris Cisneros, who Jones knocked out to win the belt in Cardiff this past February.
Cub comes into the Jones showdown in fine form. Hawkins is 3-0 in BKB since the Cisneros defeat. He successfully defended his cruiserweight belt with wins over Zion Tomlinson Sr and Jack Marshman. In his last fight, Hawkins stopped Joseph Brett Williams in three rounds.
Must Win for Barrie Jones
BKB Bare Knuckle posted a video in which Jones discussed the Nelson fight’s postponement.
“The Welsh Wrecking Machine” admitted he was “really disappointed” he won’t be facing Nelson later this month.
He also said the Hawkins fight is a must win for him.
“To me, if I lose a fight, I’m done completely. I can’t afford to lose now. I gotta keep winning and I gotta take him out.
Barrie Jones reacts to LT Nelson's rematch-delaying injury and new fight against Cub Hawkins 🗣️
Don't miss Night of Four Kings on November 22
🎟️/📺 Visit https://t.co/X6QWzn6otc#BKB48 #BKB #BareKnuckle pic.twitter.com/x4CMgNxADG— BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) November 1, 2025
Sparring Setback for Nelson
As Jones mentions in the video, Nelson suffered a clavicle injury. Smash was injured while sparring, and sources within BKB said he’ll be out of action for 8-12 weeks.
The sparring injury put the brakes on a huge 2025 for Nelson (8-1-1, 7 Kos), who had avenged the two blemishes on his record.
In March, he defeated James Connelly by unanimous decision. The two fought to a draw previously in 2023.
Three months later in June, Nelson avenged the only defeat of his career, stopping former champ Sam Liera in the first round. Liera had defeated Nelson by decision in December 2022.
A repeat win against Jones would have made a bumper year for the South African. Jones had been regarded as the world’s best bare knuckle fighter before Nelson grinded him down and stopped him in August 2024. The rematch would give Nelson a chance to prove the first win wasn’t a fluke.
He’ll have to wait.
And if Cub gets his hand raised against Jones, we may see a Smash-Cub clash in 2026.
