On June 27th BKB: Big-Knockout Boxing will present it’s
latest installment with an eight fight card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the card will be a bout to crown the inaugural
BKB World Heavyweight champion. BKB veteran Julian Pollard will face
multi-combat sport veteran Tyrone Spong.
Pollard is undefeated in two previous BKB appearances and
is coming off a fourth round stoppage of Elijah McCall on the last BKB event in
April of this year. In terms of experience, one might argue that Pollard could
have an advantage heading into this fight as he has already fought under the
BKB Boxing format. Spong however, who will be making his BKB debut is a
seasoned veteran of Combat Sports having competed in the sport of Mixed Martial
Arts, Boxing, and Kickboxing.
As this observer has stated in my previous coverage of
BKB Boxing cards a theme that will be present for a time as the concept/sport
of BKB continues to evolve will be how newcomers to the BKB format will fare
against fighters who have previously fought in BKB. Although some may be
critical of the fact that Tyrone Spong will be fighting for a BKB world
championship in his first BKB fight, it is important to remember that BKB is
still very much in its growing stages and as more fighters come on board in
various weight classes it is logical to assume that championship fights
featuring newcomers against BKB veterans will take place. It really is not all
that different from the position that the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was
in many years ago as various promotions started up and began the process of
crowning their own world champions in various weight classes.
It will be interesting to see how Spong will adapt to the
BKB format. Spong however, is undefeated as a boxer in bouts fought under
traditional Boxing rules with a record of 2-0 with both wins coming via first
round knockout. It is important to remember that the format in which all BKB
fights are fought differ from traditional Boxing rules.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept/sport of
BKB, here is what sets BKB apart from the traditional Boxing format. All bouts
in BKB are fought in an area known simply as the “BKB Pit.” Unlike a traditional 20x20 Boxing ring, the BKB Pit has no ropes
measuring seventeen feet in
diameter and 227 square feet. Unlike
traditional Professional Boxing where rounds are scheduled for three minutes in
duration, rounds in BKB are scheduled for two minutes in duration.
BKB initially debuted in July 2013 as a modernized form
of Bare-Knuckle boxing known as BKB: Bare-Knuckle Boxing. For its first two cards, BKB introduced specifically designed Boxing gloves where the
knuckles were exposed inside of the glove. This however, would change as BKB
would undergo a slight revamp in the form of a name change to Big-Knockout
Boxing in August of last year. Along with the name change, the specially
designed knuckle exposed Boxing gloves were replaced by traditional Boxing
gloves weighing between eight and ten ounces depending on the weight class in
which a fight takes place.
Given Spong’s record under traditional Boxing rules as well
as Pollard’s undefeated record in BKB of 2-0, with both of those wins coming
via knockout, it is logical to assume that this fight might not go the
distance. Some may remember however, following the last BKB card in April this
observer while discussing the BKB Middleweight world championship fight between
champion Gabriel Rosado and Curtis Stevens, which ended in a seven round
majority draw that although BKB is still very much in its growing stages and
even though the BKB format differs from traditional Professional Boxing, I
believe that championship fights should be scheduled for at least ten or twelve
rounds. The Rosado-Stevens fight was “Inconclusive” and in the eyes of this
observer, had the fight been scheduled for a longer distance a clear winner may
have emerged between the two. It is unclear as of this writing as to the
scheduled distance for the Pollard-Spong championship bout, but it will be
interesting to see if those behind BKB will schedule this championship bout for
a longer distance in an attempt to hopefully determine a clear winner should
the fight go the distance.
Also on this card, in a Jr. Middleweight bout Jesus Soto
Karass returns to BKB following a successful debut in April as he will take on
Adrian Granados. In his last fight on the undercard of Rosado-Stevens in April,
Soto Karass scored a five round unanimous decision over Ed Paredes. Soto Karass
is a veteran of forty-one professional fights in bouts fought under traditional
Boxing rules and will have an experience edge overall over Granados, who will
be making his BKB debut after compiling a record of 13-4-2, with 9 Knockouts
under traditional Boxing rules.
Although Soto-Karass is likely the favorite heading into this
fight based on overall experience in addition to his previous experience in
BKB, it will all depend on how Granados will adapt to the BKB format. It will
however, be interesting to see if the winner of this fight could find himself
in position to fight for a vacant BKB world championship in the Jr.
Middleweight division down the line.
In a Middleweight bout Shane Mosley Jr. , son of former
multi-division world champion Shane Mosley will make his BKB debut against
Jason Kelly, who will also be fighting in BKB for the first time. Mosley enters
having compiled a professional record in traditional Professional Boxing of
4-1, with 4 Knockouts. Kelly will enter the fight undefeated with a record of
3-0, with all three victories coming by way of knockout.
Both fighters are up and comers in traditional Professional
Boxing and it will be interesting to see whether one of these fighters can
establish themselves as a contender in the BKB Middleweight division. Although
one might assume that a rematch between Gabriel Rosado and Curtis Stevens for
the BKB World Middleweight championship could take place on a future BKB card,
for other fighters competing in weight classes in BKB where there is a world
champion, an impressive performance could elevate a fighter into a championship
fight. Whether or not Mosley or Kelly will eventually find themselves fighting
for a BKB world championship remains to be seen.
In a Jr. Middleweight bout Janks Trotter will make his BKB
debut against Ed Paredes. Trotter, will
enter the fight with a professional record of 9-1-1, with all nine of his wins
coming by knockout. Parades, who has a record of 35-5-1, with 23 Knockouts, in
fights fought under traditional Boxing rules will be looking for his first
victory in BKB.
Also in the Jr. Middleweight division Urmat Ryskeldiev will
face Marcus Willis. Both fighters will be making their BKB debuts. Ryskeldiev
will enter the fight with a professional record of 10-3-1, with 6 Knockouts.
Willis will enter with a record of 14-4-2, with 3 Knockouts. Both fighters have
suffered knockouts in bouts fought under traditional Boxing rules. One might
argue however, that Willis could have a slight advantage in this format as he
has only been stopped once in his career, while Ryskeldiev has been stopped in
all three of his losses as a professional. Although BKB is a different format
than traditional Professional Boxing, a question that some might ask as BKB
continues to grow is how fighters who have suffered knockouts in bouts fought
under traditional rules will fare in the BKB Pit, which has in BKB’s previous
four cards proved to favor fighters who like to fight on the inside and does
not appear to favor fighters who like to use lateral movement.
The biggest thing about the BKB Pit is that it will force
fighters to engage and for fighters who have suffered knockouts before in bouts
fought under traditional rules, it will be interesting to see how they approach
fighting in The Pit. Fighters who have a reputation as being susceptible to
being knocked out, particularly early in fights may not fare well in the BKB
format. Fighters however, who may have suffered knockouts in the past, but have
at the same time proven to be battle tested could have more success. It will
simply boil down to how newcomers will adapt to the BKB format.
In other bouts:
Chris Spang (Professional Boxing record 2-0, 0 Knockouts) vs.
Samuel Horowitz (Professional Boxing record 3-1, 3 Knockouts) (Light-Heavyweights)
Anthony Castellon (Professional Boxing
record 11-0-1, with 10 Knockouts)
vs. Antonio Johnson (Professional Boxing record 11-1-1, with 6 Knockouts) (Jr. Middleweights)
Travis Castellon (Professional Boxing
record 13-0-1, with 10 Knockouts) vs.
Arturo Quintero (Professional Boxing record 18-4-1, with 10 Knockouts)
(Lightweights)
*All six fighters are making their respective BKB debuts.
BKB: Pollard vs. Spong takes place Saturday
June 27th and is available on cable and satellite pay-per-view throughout the
United States for $29.95. Contact your local pay-per-view provider for ordering
information.
As BKB prepares for the fifth card in its existence, the
overall theme of this card will be in large part newcomers entering the BKB
format for the first time. The concept/sport of BKB however, has over the last
two years shown consistent progress and this observer believes that this card
taking place two months following the last BKB event is a good sign that this
concept is heading in the right direction. As BKB prepares to crown it’s first World
Heavyweight champion, this observer very much looks forward to seeing what is
in store for BKB on Saturday night.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
For more information about BKB:
Big-Knockout Boxing and for a list of cable and satellite providers carrying
BKB: Pollard vs. Spong please visit: www.BKB.tv.
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison
All Rights Reserved.
