BKB CEO David Tetreault sees Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr.’s first fight in the United Kingdom as a key part of the promotion’s first trip to Newcastle. Diaz faces Brian Hyslop at BKB 60 on October 10, bringing a former IBF world titleholder and U.S. Olympian into the bare-knuckle ring at Utilita Arena Newcastle.
“Getting a genuine former world champion like JoJo Diaz to make his first-ever UK appearance at our first-ever Newcastle show says everything about where this sport is heading,” Tetreault said. “This is a huge moment for Newcastle and a huge statement for BKB.”
Diaz has fought professionally for more than 14 years, but all 45 of his previous traditional boxing bouts took place in the United States or Mexico. His career includes fights with Devin Haney, Gary Russell Jr. and Regis Prograis, plus a 2020 decision win over Tevin Farmer for the IBF super featherweight championship. He represented the United States at the 2012 Olympics before building a 34-10-1 record in gloved boxing.
BKB 60
The 33-year-old entered bare-knuckle competition in July at BKB 56 in Los Angeles and stopped Nate Williams in the first round. Diaz now brings a 1-0 BKB record, with one knockout, into a super lightweight matchup against Hyslop, who is 2-1 with one stoppage. It is Diaz’s first chance to fight in Britain in any combat-sports format. Diaz said the change of location gives the night some personal history.
“I’ve fought all over the States and in Mexico, but I’ve never stepped into a ring in the UK, not once in my whole career,” Diaz said. “Newcastle is going to be the first, and I’m doing it bare knuckle.” Tetreault has already had to adjust the Newcastle plan.
BKB originally announced local heavyweight Mick Terrill against Kamil Sokolowski as the main event. Terrill accepted a short-notice fight with heavyweight champion Gustavo Trujillo while traveling to Miami for BKB 60 promotional work, then suffered a cut that will not heal in time for October 10.
Tetreault said Terrill is expected to attend as a special guest rather than compete. That change moved Rolando “Dy Incredible” Dy’s BKB Super Welterweight World Championship defense against Scott “The Mute” McHugh into the headline slot.
Tetreault described the matchup as the type of bout BKB wanted atop its first Newcastle card, calling Dy a fighter on a strong run and McHugh a proven champion with a history in difficult bare-knuckle fights. Dy, 6-1 with five knockouts, is the son of former WBC champion Rolando Navarrete and became the first Filipino fighter to win BKB gold. His BKB wins include Liam Rees and former two-weight boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi.
McHugh, a Leeds native, enters at 17-5 with seven knockouts, five BKB titles, Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame recognition and a five-fight winning streak. The co-main event has Britain’s Mark O’Neil, 4-4 with four knockouts, against Poland’s Kamil Sokolowski, 3-1 with three knockouts. Both men have stopped every opponent they have beaten in BKB, making their heavyweight meeting a direct contrast in style to the championship bout: fewer title implications, but plenty of reason to stay close to the ring.
The eight-fight main card also includes Adel “Kyokushin” Altamimi against Liam Howell, David Winiarski vs. Geraint Goodridge, Jon Telfer vs. Mick Kelly, Dec Spelman vs. Andrea Bicchi and Liam Teruel vs. Tom Pratt. The preliminary card features Kieron Harland vs. Nathan Conroy, John Hamilton vs. Florian De La Motte, Rob Barry vs. James McCorrie and Logan Morgan vs. Nick Bass.