Bare Knuckle Boxing’s push to sign name boxers and connect with a wider audience shines in this week's summer schedule announcement.
With cards topped by former world champions Lee Selby and Victor Ortiz along with another headed by two sons of former world-champion Fernando Vargas, BKB unveiled four shows.
Selby, the former IBF featherweight champion, is atop a June 27 card in his native Wales versus Italy’s Antonio Rizzo in Cardiff, Wales.
Former welterweight champion Ortiz is atop the July 18 card at The Novo in Los Angeles on a card that includes former Canelo Alvarez title challenger Alfredo Angulo, and bare-knuckle standout LT Nelson.
The Vargas brothers – Fernando Jnr and Amado – will anchor the July 25 card at London’s O2 Arena in an anticipated event that features former BKB heavyweight champion Mick Terrill.
And then, Cuba’s former Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa, who once met Terence Crawford, will be in the main event of BKB’s August 29 show in Miami.
“This summer showcases the depth, quality, and international reach of our roster. BKB continues to set the standard as the leading force in the sport,” BKB CEO David Tetreault said in a prepared statement.
New BKB COO William Wright told BoxingScene that in addition to the debut Los Angeles card, BKB is poised to add more boxing talent to the cast.
Wright said the global push by BKB is similar to the track he and Tetreault cleared for Golden Boy Promotions when Oscar De La Hoya’s company had Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia in its stable.
By adding prime and veteran talent to this stable and attracting fans with its alternate boxing style, BKB aspires to take a “transformative step” in appealing to a wider fan base, Wright said.
