Unfinished Business: Nelson, Connelly to Rematch at BYB 35 in Albuquerque

Lorawnt Nelson and James Connelly will rematch their 2023 Fight of the Year candidate on 11 January, BYB announced Monday. The BYB Police Gazette Diamond Super Middleweight Title fight headlines BYB 35: Albuquerque Brawl.

Nelson and Connelly fought to a draw at BYB 19 in Florida in August 2023. Connelly scored a first-round knockdown and landed the cleaner punches, but Nelson was the aggressor and scored well to the body.

Connelly was docked two points for excessive holding by referee Samuel Burgos. The deductions cost Connelly the win, as he ended up with a majority draw by scores of 45-47 for Nelson and 46-46 twice.

If you haven’t seen the match yet, it’s worth a watch!

Seventeen months later, the fighters meet again with the BYB Police Gazette Title on the line.

Since their first bout, Nelson has scored three straight stoppage wins, including a third-round KO over Welsh legend Barrie Jones. The win over Jones solidified Nelson’s status as one of the best bare knuckle fighters in the world.

Connelly went on to unsuccessfully challenge Jimmy Sweeney for the BKB Welterweight Title, losing on points. He rebounded with an impressive stoppage win over Mark Tiffin at BYB 29 in July.

Some thought Connelly deserved the decision in the first bout. Nelson is ready to prove them wrong.

“I can’t wait for this rematch so I can shut up all of James Connelly fans and show everyone who the true and real super middleweight champion of the world is,” Nelson said.

“More important I want to show the world that I did win that first fight – even though the people judging somehow say it as a draw.”

The two fighters struck up a friendship after their first bout. According to Connelly, the friendship is on hold when the fight begins.

“We are two of the best in the world and I’m happy that this inevitable rematch is finally happening. Nelson is a great guy, but we are fighters, and when that bell rings, we haven’t got time to be friends,” said Connelly.

BYB 35: Albuquerque Brawl is the promotion’s first event in the state of New Mexico, which borders Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado. The event will be streamed live on BKB World TV, and broadcast in the US on BEin Sports, Fuse TV and The Fight Network.

No other matches were mentioned in the announcement.

The next BYB event, BYB 34: Brawl at the Pines 4 takes place on 6 December in Pembroke Pines, Florida. BYB Police Gazette Heavyweight Champion Gustavo Trujillo meets the UK’s Richie Leak in the main event.