Two World Titles on the Line as BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing Makes Its Mexico Debut In Tijuana

Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) is set to make its historic debut in Mexico on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Tijuana. The event will feature two highly anticipated world title fights, marking a significant moment for bare-knuckle boxing in Latin America. BKB is partnering with Zanfer Boxing, a leading promoter in the region, to bring this spectacular night of combat sports to Mexican fans.

BKB CEO David Tetreault expressed his excitement for the debut, stating that the event deserves nothing less than two world championship contests. He highlighted Julian Fernandez's hometown title defense as a key statement for the Mexican market, complemented by the crowning of a new Super Flyweight World Champion, with Cecy Ulloa competing for the title in her home country.

Fernando Beltran, Founder and President of Zanfer Boxing, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Mexican fans crave title fights. He believes BKB is delivering exactly that from the outset, with Fernandez defending his title at home and a new champion emerging in the co-main event, providing ample reason for fans to fill the arena. This debut is anticipated to be the beginning of something significant for bare-knuckle boxing in Mexico.

In the main event, BKB Super Cruiserweight World Champion Julian Fernandez will defend his title in his native Tijuana against former three-division BKB champion Dan “Big Pod” Podmore. The co-main event will feature a battle for the vacant BKB Super Flyweight World Championship, with Mexico's own Cecy Ulloa facing Andy “The CrAsian” Nguyen.

Julian Fernandez, with a perfect 2-0 record in BKB and 3-0 overall in bare-knuckle boxing, is coming off a decisive first-round knockout victory at BKB 53. The Tijuana native, son of former professional boxer Pedro “Pitbull” Fernandez, turned professional in 2016 and has achieved success in traditional boxing, holding a National Boxing Championship in Mexico and a professional boxing record of 16-4. In his bare-knuckle career, he has yet to be taken the distance in his three fights.

His opponent, Dan Podmore, is a seasoned BKB veteran and a former champion in the Heavyweight, Bridgerweight, and Cruiserweight divisions. Podmore, who lost his last title to Marko Martinjak, is a fighter from Birmingham, England. He enters the fight with a 9-4 bare-knuckle record, most recently securing a TKO win over Jarome Hatch at BKB 55: Carnage in Cardiff. His extensive championship pedigree across multiple weight classes makes him a formidable challenger for Fernandez.

In the co-main event, Cecy Ulloa has the opportunity to claim a world title in front of her home crowd. Based in Puerto Vallarta and a gym owner, Ulloa brings 18 years of combat sports experience to the ring. She holds a 2-1 (1 NC) record in BKB and was ranked as the No. 1 flyweight in bare-knuckle boxing as recently as 2019. Ulloa is known for her versatile fighting style, comfortable both at range and in close quarters, and aims to make history for her nation.

Her opponent, Andy Nguyen, is recognized as the first professional Vietnamese-American female fighter in combat sports. A three-time King of the Cage atomweight champion, Nguyen transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing after a successful MMA career. Based in South Carolina, Nguyen has a 1-1 BKB record and possesses the experience of facing some of the toughest competitors in the sport, making her confident in her ability to leave Tijuana as champion.

Tickets for BKB's inaugural Mexico event are currently available for purchase at bkb59.com.