GARY FOX STRIKES GOLD IN BKFC FIGHT NIGHT MANCHESTER HEADLINER
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Manchester, England (March 29, 2025) Gary Fox won the vacant Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Featherweight UK Title with a technical knockout over the previously unbeaten Jonno Chipchase in the main event of BKFC Fight Night Manchester on Saturday at the sold-out Planet Ice in Manchester, England. The event aired LIVE globally on The BKFC App.
The ringside physician called a halt to the bout at the conclusion of the action-packed opening round due to a significant laceration between the eyes of Chipchase, who hails from Manchester.
“I knew I was winning this belt,” the Billingham, England native Fox, (4-2), told the jam-packed Planet Ice. “I don't think anyone will trouble me at this weight. I think I'll destroy them all." Chipchase is now 3-1 under the BKFC banner.
In the BKFC Fight Night Manchester co-main event, former professional gloved boxing standout Jack Cullen was victorious by first-round stoppage in his highly anticipated BKFC debut. The former World Boxing Organization title challenger out of Bolton, England sent Jakub “Kosa” Kosicki to the canvas twice before the ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the 1:24 mark of the opening round. The Poznan, Poland product Kosicki moves to 0-2 under the BKFC banner.
Antrim, Ireland light-heavyweight Conor “Da Crook” Cooke cruised to 5-1 with a first-round knockout over Stevie Taylor. Cooke scored a pair of knockdowns before the match was stopped at the 1:21 mark. Taylor, who hails from Darwen, England, is now 1-1.
Darwen’s Gaz “The Crusher” Corran turned heads in his BKFC debut with an 80-second stoppage victory at the expense of Dawid “Macho” Chylinski in light-heavyweight action. Chylinski, who hails from Wolverhampton, England, is now 0-2.
Wakefield, England light-heavyweight Matt “The Hammer” Hodgson smashed his way to 3-1 with a second-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Danny “The Destroyer” Moir. Hodgson logged a pair of knockdowns before the bout was stopped 30 seconds into the second frame. Moir, a product of Scarborough, England, is now 2-1.
Pila, Poland’s Bart “The Last Polish King” Krol climbed to 5-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Simeon Ottley in their middleweight showdown. Two judges scored the contest 49-46, and one judge had it 50-45, all in favor of Krol. Ottley, who represents Leeds, England, moves to 1-1.
Scuntthorpe, England cruiserweight Dec “Kid Nytro” Spelman was victorious in his BKFC debut, recording a clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards (50-44) against Tomas Lejsek, (0-2), of Chrastava, Czech Republic.
Blackburn, England’s David Oskar sent Stanoy “The Cobra” Tabakov to the canvas three times en route to the second-round knockout victory in cruiserweight action. The bout was called to a stop 26 seconds into the second frame. Oskar is now 5-2, while the Sofia, Bulgaria product Tabakov moves to 1-2.
Doncaster, England’s Danny Mitchell climbed to 2-1 with a decision victory over Benjamin Lowe in the light-heavyweight division. Mitchell recorded three knockdowns in the fight, paving the way for the unanimous decision (50-42x2, 48-44). Lowe, who hails from Denton, England, was making his BKFC debut.
Staylybridge, England’s Leigh “The Boom” Cohoon improved to 2-0 with a knockout over debuting Wrexham, Wales fighter James O’Brien in their light-heavyweight matchup. The stoppage came 53 seconds into the second round. Both fighters recorded a knockdown in the bout.
Manchester welterweight Liam Dooley needed just 14 seconds in his BKFC debut as he ran through Marcus “The Pilgrim” Pond with a lightning-fast knockout. Pond, who represents Plymouth, England, is now 1-2.
Dublin’s Sinéadh “The Grenade” Ní Nualláin was victorious in her BKFC debut, earning the win via unanimous decision over Mathilda “Mayhem” Wilson in their women’s bantamweight matchup. Two judges scored the fight 49-46, while one had it 48-47. The Stockholm, Sweden product Wilson moves to 0-2.
BKFC Fight Night Manchester Results
Gary Fox def. Jonno Chipchase via TKO in Round 1 (2:00)
Wins vacant BKFC Featherweight UK Title
Jack Cullen def. Jakub Kosicki via TKO in Round 1 (1:24)
Conor Cooke def. Stevie Taylor via KO in Round 1 (1:01)
Gaz Corran def. Dawid Chylinski via TKO in Round 1 (0:80)
Matt Hodgson def. Danny Moir via TKO in Round 2 (0:30)
Bart Krol def. Simeon Ottley via Unanimous Decision (49-46x2, 50-45)
Dec Spelman def. Tomas Lejsek via Unanimous Decision (50-44x3)
David Oskar def. Stanoy Tabakov via TKO in Round 2 (0:26)
Danny Mitchell def. Benjamin Lowe via Unanimous Decision (50-42x2, 48-44)
Leigh Cohoon def. James O’Brien via TKO in Round 2 (0:53)
Liam Dooley def. Marcus Pond via KO in Round 1 (0:14)
Sinéadh Ní Nualláin def. Mathilda Wilson via Unanimous Decision (49-46x2, 48-47)
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
