Julian Fernandez is the undefeated Mexican bare-knuckle champion leading BKB’s first event in Mexico. The Tijuana fighter puts his BKB Super Cruiserweight World Championship on the line against former three-division titleholder Dan “Big Pod” Podmore in the BKB 59 main event on September 19 at Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana.
Fernandez, known as “Pit Bull Jr.,” is a 32-year-old fighter from Tijuana who stands 6-foot-4 and boxes from an orthodox stance. He is listed at 3-0 with one no contest in bare-knuckle competition, and his three wins have all ended inside the distance. BKB has built its Mexico debut around Fernandez because he is a local champion defending his belt in front of his home crowd.
BKB 59 Headliner Julian Fernandez Brings World Title Fight to Tijuana
His route to this point began in conventional professional boxing. Fernandez turned pro in 2015 and built a reported 16-4 record with 13 knockouts before shifting toward bare-knuckle bouts. His gloved resume includes fights with heavyweight names Frank Sanchez, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Tom Schwarz, giving him experience against high-level opposition before he entered the Trigon.
The nickname comes from his coach and cornerman, Pedro “Pitbull” Fernandez. BKB’s profile says Fernandez trains closely with Pedro rather than as part of a larger team, making their long-running coach-fighter relationship central to his preparation. Away from fighting, he is a father of two.
Fernandez made his BKB debut at BKB 44 in Denver in August 2025, stopping England’s Kevin Greenwood in the first round. The finish came at 2:09, and it marked a fast start for the Mexican newcomer against an opponent with established bare-knuckle experience.
Before joining BKB, Fernandez had already recorded a bare-knuckle stoppage of Lino Sanchez Orozco in May 2024. He later became BKB’s first male Mexican world champion when he knocked out Alex Wilson in the opening round to claim the super cruiserweight title. BKB’s record also includes a first-round no contest with Yordan Fuentes, so it does not affect his unbeaten status.
BKB 59 is scheduled as the promotion’s first Mexico card and is being staged through a partnership with Zanfer Promotions, a major Mexican boxing promoter. The event is set for September 19 in Tijuana.
Fernandez vs. Podmore headlines a two-title bill. Mexico’s Cecy Ulloa is slated to meet Andy “The CrAsian” Nguyen for the vacant BKB Super Flyweight World Championship in the co-main event. For Fernandez, it is a chance to move from promising crossover fighter to the athlete most associated with BKB’s arrival in his home city.