The marquee welterweight matchup was officially announced on Thursday by BKB, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes, action-packed evening of combat sports. The scheduled five-round contest will take place inside the confines of Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, a venue that will also host history as it marks the promotion’s very first live event in the state of Delaware.
For fight fans in the region and followers of the increasingly popular sport of bare-knuckle fighting, the card represents a significant milestone. BKB has steadily expanded its footprint, and bringing a card headlined by a veteran name like Hank Lundy to Dover underscores the organization’s ambition to capture new audiences and deliver elite-level matchups outside of traditional combat sports strongholds.
Hank Lundy faces Jairo Santos in professional bare-knuckle debut at BKB Fightnight on Nov. 20
Hank Lundy steps into this new phase of his combat sports career with a deep well of experience forged over more than a decade at the highest levels of professional boxing. Throughout a storied career in the squared circle, Lundy compiled an impressive 32-14-1 professional record, which featured 14 victories coming by way of knockout. Known for his durability, relentless pressure, and willingness to engage in crowd-pleasing wars, Lundy tested himself against some of the best fighters of his generation.
Among the defining moments of his traditional boxing career was his world championship opportunity in 2016, when he challenged the elite pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford for the WBO junior welterweight championship. Though Lundy fell short in that bid against one of the sport’s most dominant modern champions, the experience further cemented his reputation as a fearless competitor who never backed down from a challenge. Now, approaching a new chapter under bare-knuckle rules, Lundy is eager to test his skills in an environment where defensive mastery and toughness are tested in entirely different ways.
“I’ve been in some big fights throughout my boxing career, but making my BKB debut is a new challenge that I’m excited to take on,” Lundy said following Thursday’s announcement. Reflecting on his aggressive fighting style and what fans can expect when he steps into the organization’s unique fighting structure, he added, “I’ve always been a fighter who comes forward and looks to put on a show, and that’s exactly what I plan to do inside the Trigon.”
Across the ring from Lundy will be Jairo Santos, a 29-year-old competitor who is also preparing to make his professional bare-knuckle boxing debut. Hailing from South Carolina, Santos brings a formidable background in the sweet science as well as prior experience in the amateur bare-knuckle ranks. In his professional boxing career, Santos has posted a clean 2-0 record, with both of his victories coming decisively by knockout. That heavy-handedness will undoubtedly serve him well as he transitions into the bare-knuckle arena, where the absence of gloves significantly increases the impact of every landed punch.
While Lundy enters the bout with the undeniable advantage of name recognition, elite-level experience, and a long history of competing against world-class opposition, Santos is entirely unfazed by the pedigree of his veteran opponent. For Santos, this main event assignment represents a golden opportunity to disrupt the established narrative and make a resounding statement on a major platform.
“Hank Lundy has a big name in boxing, but that won’t mean anything once we step inside the Trigon,” Santos stated confidently. Emphasizing his preparation and unwavering belief in his own abilities, he continued, “I’m coming into this fight to win, and I’m confident I have what it takes to get the job done. This is my opportunity to make a statement, and I fully intend to take it. Come fight night in Dover, I’m leaving with the victory.”
The clash of styles between a battle-tested veteran with decades of high-level ring savvy and a hungry, heavy-handed newcomer looking to catapult his name into the upper echelons of the sport creates a compelling narrative for the Nov. 20 card. Both fighters share a penchant for forward-moving, offensive-minded combat, which virtually guarantees that the main event will deliver high drama from the opening bell.
As the fight date approaches, anticipation continues to build around how Lundy’s veteran instincts will adapt to the nuances of bare-knuckle combat and whether Santos can capitalize on the biggest moment of his athletic career thus far. For fans unable to make the trip to Bally’s Dover Casino Resort in person, the event will be broadcast live, ensuring that a wide audience can tune in to witness the action unfold. The Friday event will stream live on Bally’s digital platforms, including Bally Sports Live, allowing combat sports enthusiasts everywhere to watch the historic Dover debut and see which competitor leaves the Trigon with their hand raised.
