BoxRec

Bareknuckle. that'll end well.

Surely he’d be better just fighting a rematch with groves. He’d be well paid for an exhibition.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑11 Jul 2025, 02:33 Surely he’d be better just fighting a rematch with groves. He’d be well paid for an exhibition.

yeah good point.

DeGale is reportedly set to make his debut on September 27 in Manchester, UK.

Jamel Herring has signed too

Con is doing a $25m tournament

and Yoel Romero

also

Derek Brunson

BKFC's new signings

Former boxing world champions and ex-UFC stars
James DeGale
Jamel Herring
Yoel Romero
Derek Brunson
Aspen Ladd
Thiago Santos

Got to feel sorry for these lads that they are seemingly in such a desperate position that they are doing this. This enterprise will, I think, pay off for McGregor and his backers.

Jesus. Boxers switching to BK has not ended well with the exception of Austin Trout
Paulie M has signed another contract after his one fight and loss but he has been involved in development of it for a while which explains the rationale there.

I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:17 I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

So he’s not fighting BKFC in September?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:54

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:17 I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

So he’s not fighting BKFC in September?

I've seen both reported.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:17 I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

Jesus, he must be minted surely the unlicensed is pennies to him? And the unlicensed must be so much more dangerous?

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025, 13:07

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:17 I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

Jesus, he must be minted surely the unlicensed is pennies to him? And the unlicensed must be so much more dangerous?

Unlicensed boxing is usually just poor standard boxers. He'll be at risk more in BKB.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025, 13:23

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jul 2025, 13:07

mickey1975 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2025, 16:17 I've read he's boxing unlicensed on August 9th in Manchester on a card topped by Lucas Browne.

Jesus, he must be minted surely the unlicensed is pennies to him? And the unlicensed must be so much more dangerous?

Unlicensed boxing is usually just poor standard boxers. He'll be at risk more in BKB.

Ah gotcha. I feel bad for him, he’s been at the very top of the sport. Just feels a bit tragic. Not that he’s gonna be worried what I think. Feels a bit wrong though.

Doesn't look good does it?

The buture might indeed be a fright for Chunky.

Ex-world champion DeGale to make bare-knuckle bow

Former world champion James DeGale will make his bare-knuckle fighting debut on 27 September in Manchester.

DeGale, 39, retired from boxing in 2019 after a unanimous decision defeat by Chris Eubank Jr.

He will return to combat sports against Australian Matt Floyd on the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card at the AO Arena.

"UK I'm back. This time the gloves are off," the Londoner wrote on Instagram.

"Everyone asking what version you're getting... seven years out, body healed, mind sharp - it's the best one yet. Demolition job pending."

DeGale became the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title.

He won middleweight gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and claimed the IBF super-middleweight title in May 2015 with a points win over American Andre Dirrell.

Nicknamed 'Chunky', he lost the belt in December 2017 to Caleb Truax but regained it in a rematch in April 2018 before vacating it later that year.

After being outpointed by fellow Briton Eubank Jr in what was his third career loss, DeGale said he was "not the fighter I once was" and announced his retirement shortly after.

Floyd, 36, has a professional boxing record of 15 wins and two losses. The Perth-born fighter and former gang member, who served time in prison, was reportedly in talks to face Briton Tommy Fury earlier this year.

Sad

Yet another boxer who is trying to convince the public that years of inactivity has lead them to discover the fountain of youth and made them faster, sharper and fitter than ever before...

Must have missed this

I can remember the thread on here leading up to, and post the Eubank Jr fight.
Esteemed Posters coming to terms with the fact James was a shadow, a ghost of what was a very handy well rounded (bit of everything) boxer.
That was over 6 years ago.
The sort of person who would watch him do that to himself, after the sterling career he has had, is of not the best character.

I can’t think of too many boxers less suited to bare-knuckle than DeGale really.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025, 19:38 I can’t think of too many boxers less suited to bare-knuckle than DeGale really.

That kinda seems to be the only ones that try it isn't it? I've yet to see a Boxer known as a Puncher try it.

Thus far it's been Paulie Malignaggi, Austin Trout and now Degale

Eventually a hard puncher is bound to give a whirl. Not sure what the hold up is. Maybe the big punchers would be more likely to break their hands?

I asked similar question but put it in the other combat sport section.

Degale will be at the AO arena Manchester, my question was would a bkb event fill an arena like this?

Does anyone know the likely purse?