BREAKING: BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series Acquires UK-Based BKBTM

Press Release: May 8, 2024 By BYB Extreme Bareknuckle Fighting Series - -

The groundbreaking US bare knuckle organization based out of Miami, Florida has acquired the 

oldest, active bare knuckle company in the world, making BYB the largest company in terms of 

roster, library and global reach in the bare knuckle space. 

Miami, Florida – BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series Owner and President Mike Vazquez

announced today that the company has acquired London-based BKB, the world’s first professional bare 

knuckle boxing promotion, who has successfully promoted forty bare knuckle events which are broadcast 

in over thirty-five different countries with millions of fans and viewers worldwide.

As bare knuckle continues to grow in popularity, and sponsorship of live programming in sports remain at 

a premium, John Bryan, a pioneering leader with expertise in media distribution and with more than 20 

years working at MGM, Disney and Warner Brothers and who is leading BYB’s broadcast and streaming 

partnership efforts, notes: 

“The future is now. Major consumer brands and mainstream broadcasters and streaming 

services are quickly recognizing the untapped value of bare knuckle fighting and its 

inevitable impact on the market. BYB pioneered the sport and, having put together a 

sustainable roadmap for both the organization and the sport’s international growth, BYB 

has just accelerated this entire process by instantly increasing not only its live show output, 

but also its sponsored content library.” 

Formed in 2015 by Jim Freeman and Joe Smith-Brown, BKB regularly sells out the Liverpool Echo Arena 

and London’s Indigo at the O2, has hosted international fights in Phuket, Thailand, boasts a roster of over 

175 international fighters - including some of the best bare knuckle fighters in the world including Ireland’s 

Jimmy Sweeney, Croatia’s Marko Martinjak and Wales’ Barrie Jones and Dan Chapman, and was the 

first bare knuckle company in the world to professionalize the sport in the modern era.

Both Freeman and Smith-Brown will stay with BYB in an executive capacity, as Freeman will continue to 

handle day-to-day operations for BYB in Europe, and Smith-Brown will also stay on with BYB to oversee 

continued European expansion.

Material Courtesy of BYB Extreme Bareknuckle Fighting Series Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series Makes Its Louisiana Debut Saturday, July 13

Press Release: May 2, 2024 By BYB Extreme Bareknuckle Fighting Series - BYB 28 will be headlined by a massive heavyweight title matchup between undefeated champion “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva and undefeated #1 contender Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo. The co-main event will feature former BYB women’s lightweight champion Monica Medina against undefeated Helen Peralta.

Credit: BYB Extreme Bareknuckle Fighting Series 

New Orleans, LA – BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series CEO Gregory Bloom announced today that BYB will make its Louisiana debut Saturday, July 13 at the John A. Alario Event Center. Tickets are available now at bybextreme.com/tickets.

Undefeated BYB Heavyweight champion “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva (3-0, 3 KOs) makes his first title defense since winning the belt in February against DJ Linderman when he takes on arguably his toughest opponent yet, Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo. Trujillo is 5-0 in bare knuckle with 5 first-round knockouts.  

Trujillo sees the fight as an opportunity to cement his legacy in the sport:

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“Anytime you’re given the opportunity to fight for a world title, you’re given the chance to prove that you're the best in your division. This will be the first title of many to come, but really, it’s just another step to me claiming the most important title of all: When it’s all said and done I will be pound-for-pound the greatest bare knuckle fighter of my time.”

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In his typical businesslike manner, Villanueva noted:

 

“Simply put, this is perhaps the biggest and baddest bare knuckle fight ever. And all I have to say is, ‘Welcome to the South. It’s Hurricane Season.’”

 

In a co-main event, former BYB Lightweight Champion Monica Medina (2-2), whose only losses have come as part of her epic trilogy with current champion Paty Juarez, will face the woman she called out following her last fight, Helen Peralta (2-0-1NC). Peralta returns to the Trigon after drawing a no-contest as the result of a headbutt in her BYB debut.  

Medina made her feelings on Peralta clear:

 

“I’m excited for these big ass knuckles of mine to meet that big ass mouth of Helen’s. Welcome to MY HOUSE, Ms. Peralta.” 

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Peralta, who has been waiting for the opportunity to get in the Trigon with the former champ since signing with BYB, teased:  

 

‍“It’s about time! It only took her seven months to be ‘ready’ for this fight.” 

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BYB 28 will be broadcast live and free on Fuse, the Latino-owned, global entertainment company available through cable TV or satellite providers, as well as through Sling TV, Fubo TV and AT&T TV Now; on Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports network, available on cable, satellite and telco systems across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, as well as Roku and Apple TV devices across North America; and on BeIN SPORTS XTRA and BeIN SPORTS XTRA en Espanol. 

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ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle into a more structured product for a broader, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Colorado, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle. 

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of BYB Extreme Bareknuckle Fighting Series Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.