The appearance of Tyson Fury at BKB 58, paired with Andy Ruiz attending BKB 59, highlights a thrilling period of expansion for bare-knuckle boxing, particularly for one of its top-tier athletes. Julian Fernandez shared his thoughts on this progression as he prepares to defend his super cruiserweight crown against multi-weight BKB titleholder Dan Podmore. Their high-stakes Police Gazette diamond championship bout will serve as the main event for BKB 59 in Tijuana on September 19th, representing the organization’s first-ever show in Mexico.
Beyond his bare-knuckle achievements, ‘Pitbull Jr.’ has also established himself in traditional gloved boxing. The Mexican national champion shares several past opponents with Tyson Fury. Reflecting on the moment ‘The Gypsy King’ made an appearance at the BKB card in Miami on August 29th, Fernandez remarked [by way of Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Being both a competitor and a champion in bare-knuckle boxing fills him with immense pride. He expressed great enthusiasm, noting that seeing an all-time heavyweight great like Tyson Fury in attendance brought him a deep sense of pride. Furthermore, competing under the same promotional banner as fighters like Victor Ortiz and [El] Perro [Alfredo] Angulo highlights the incredible transformation and rapid expansion BKB and the wider bare-knuckle scene are experiencing. He is thrilled to play a key role in this expansion while holding his championship belt.”
The Rise of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, Fueled by Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz
Discussing prominent heavyweights in the boxing world, Andy Ruiz—the historic first Mexican heavyweight titleholder—is scheduled to witness the action live in Tijuana this Saturday evening, where he will watch Fernandez go head-to-head with Dan Podmore, a highly decorated three-division BKB champion with four titles to his name.
While expressing gratitude for Ruiz’s attendance, Fernandez remains completely locked in on the challenge presented by ‘Big Pod,’ stating [as reported by Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“He mentioned his excitement. After all, he was the one who brought [Andy Ruiz] into the conversation.”
This piece was originally published on BJPENN.COM
