BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing Debuts in Mexico with Two World Title Fights

BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing is set to make its highly anticipated debut in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The event will feature two world title contests, promising an exciting night for combat sports fans in Latin America. This historic occasion is being held in partnership with Zanfer Boxing, a leading promoter in the region.

David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, expressed his enthusiasm for the Mexican debut, stating, "Our Mexico debut deserves nothing less than two world championship fights, and that’s exactly what fans in Tijuana are getting on September 19. Julian Fernandez defending his title in his hometown is the statement we wanted to make in this market, and crowning a new Super Flyweight World Champion on the same night, with Cecy Ulloa fighting for it in her home country, makes this an unforgettable night for Mexican combat sports fans."

Fernando Beltran, Founder and President of Zanfer Boxing, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the appeal of title fights for Mexican audiences. "Mexican fans want to see champions fight for titles, and that’s what BKB is delivering right out of the gate. Julian Fernandez defending at home, and a new world champion being crowned in the co-main, gives our fans two reasons to fill the arena on September 19. This is the start of something big for bare knuckle boxing in Mexico."

The main event will see BKB Super Cruiserweight World Champion Julian Fernandez defend his title on home turf against the formidable former three-division BKB champion, Dan “Big Pod” Podmore. In the co-main event, the vacant BKB Super Flyweight World Championship will be contested between Mexico's own Cecy Ulloa and Andy “The CrAsian” Nguyen.

Julian Fernandez (2-0 in BKB, 3-0 overall bare knuckle) enters his title defense following a dominant first-round knockout victory at BKB 53. As a native of Tijuana and the son of a former professional boxer, Fernandez will have the fervent support of the local crowd for his first world title defense on home soil. He boasts a professional boxing record of 16-4 and has yet to be defeated in his bare knuckle career.

His opponent, Dan Podmore, is a seasoned BKB veteran and a former champion in the Heavyweight, Bridgerweight, and Cruiserweight divisions. Podmore is coming off a TKO win at BKB 55 and brings a strong bare knuckle record of 9-4, along with championship experience across multiple weight classes, positioning him as a significant threat to Fernandez's reign.

In the co-featured bout, Cecy Ulloa will have the opportunity to capture a world title in her home country. With 18 years of combat sports experience and a BKB record of 2-1 (1 NC), Ulloa was once ranked as the No. 1 flyweight in bare knuckle boxing. A versatile fighter comfortable in both boxing and close-quarters combat, Ulloa aims to make history in front of her compatriots.

Challenging Ulloa will be Andy Nguyen, recognized as the first professional Vietnamese-American female fighter in combat sports. A former three-time King of the Cage atomweight champion, Nguyen transitioned to bare knuckle boxing after a successful MMA career. With a BKB record of 1-1 and extensive experience against top-tier opponents, Nguyen is confident in her ability to emerge from Tijuana as the new world champion.