Bare knuckle boxing is set to make a triumphant return to the British capital later this year, bringing an explosive night of combat sports to the iconic indigo at The O2 in London. Promoters have officially confirmed the lineup for BKB 61, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 14. The upcoming fight card features a world championship defense, an all-British main event showcasing elite pedigree, and a fiercely anticipated welterweight rematch between two seasoned veterans.
The action-packed evening is slated to kick off at 5 p.m. local time, offering fans across the globe multiple ways to tune into the action. Viewers in the United States will be able to catch the main card live through VICE TV, while Spanish-language audiences in the U.S. can stream the coverage via Telemundo. Fans located in the United Kingdom and Ireland can follow the broadcast through talkSPORT. Additionally, organizations looking to expand digital accessibility have confirmed that a four-fight preliminary card will stream exclusively through BKB’s official TikTok account, providing a direct bridge to younger and more digitally connected fight fans.
Martinjak Puts Perfect Knockout Rate on the Line
In the co-main event of the evening, reigning BKB bridgerweight champion “Marvelous” Marko Martinjak will put his prestigious title and unblemished knockout record on the line. The Croatian champion is set to square off against former British cruiserweight boxing champion Matty “The Assassin” Askin in what promises to be a high-stakes tactical and physical battle.
Martinjak enters the ring boasting an impressive 13-2 bare-knuckle record, with a remarkable 100 percent finishing rate. All 13 of his professional victories under bare-knuckle rules have come by way of knockout, cementing his reputation as one of the most destructive and feared competitors on the BKB roster. Combining elite championship experience with the devastating power to end a contest with a single strike at any given moment, Martinjak has carved out a dominant path in the division.
His journey back to the indigo at The O2 follows a successful title defense at BKB 51 in London, where he turned back the challenge of former UFC heavyweight standout Ike Villanueva. Now, Martinjak returns to the exact same venue to face another challenger who brings deep experience from the world of traditional gloved boxing.
Across the squared circle will stand Matty Askin, who is making his maiden challenge for a bare-knuckle world championship. Askin earned this coveted title opportunity following an explosive BKB debut that ended in a definitive knockout victory. Prior to crossing over into the world of bare-knuckle fighting, the British veteran spent more than a decade carving out a successful career as a professional boxer. Over the course of his 23-4-1 boxing career, Askin captured the prestigious British cruiserweight championship and tested his skills at the highest levels by challenging for both Commonwealth and European titles. This extensive background in the traditional sweet science now sets the stage for a compelling clash of styles and resilience as he challenges the formidable Croatian titleholder.
Selby Meets Undefeated Sentance
The headline attraction of BKB 61 features a fascinating super-lightweight clash that pits championship-level pedigree against youthful momentum. Former IBF featherweight boxing champion “Lightning” Lee Selby is set to face off against undefeated bare-knuckle rising star Ollie “The Death” Sentance in an all-British main event.
Selby returns to the BKB ring following a hugely successful promotional debut this past June at BKB 55 in Cardiff, Wales. During that outing, the decorated Welsh fighter showcased his exceptional technical skills by stopping Antonio Rizzo in the second round. Selby transitioned to bare-knuckle fighting after a stellar professional boxing career that saw him reign as the IBF featherweight champion while also collecting British, Commonwealth, and European titles along the way. His smooth transition into the bare-knuckle arena has immediately positioned him as one of the sport’s most intriguing crossover athletes.
Standing in his path, however, is an opponent who has quickly proven himself to be a natural in the discipline. Ollie Sentance enters the main event carrying an unblemished 2-0 record, having finished both of his previous BKB opponents inside the distance. “The Death” first turned heads at BKB 51 by stopping Nico Earwaker in the fourth round of his promotional debut. He followed up that impressive performance at BKB 55 with a blistering second-round technical knockout victory over Corey Healey.
The main event matchup brilliantly highlights the evolving landscape of bare-knuckle boxing, contrasting Selby’s decades of elite-level championship boxing experience against a younger, hungry competitor who has already demonstrated that his fighting style and toughness translate seamlessly to the unregulated feel of the gloveless sport.
McCallum and Doherty Run It Back
The supporting card for BKB 61 is heavily bolstered by a series of compelling matchups, headlined by a slate of high-stakes welterweight contests. Among them, undefeated competitor Ashley “Bash” Devenport will put his zero on the line when he meets Kallum Skhane. Devenport enters the bout holding a 3-0 record with one knockout to his credit, while Skhane steps through the ropes looking to improve his 2-3 standing, which already includes two stoppage victories.
Action inside the welterweight division also features a high-profile rematch between former world-title challenger Aaron “The Baron” McCallum and Simey “The Smoke from Stoke” Doherty. McCallum brings a wealth of experience and a 9-6-1 record featuring seven knockouts into the contest, while Doherty steps up with a 10-2-1 record and three knockouts of his own, guaranteeing a fierce battle between two familiar foes.
Additional action on the main card includes a welterweight showdown between Dan Gittens and Dan Cawse, alongside a super-welterweight encounter featuring Luke “Smudger” Smith squaring off against Paul O’Sullivan.
For fans tuning in early via the platform’s TikTok-exclusive broadcast, the preliminary action delivers an equally competitive lineup. Carl Hobley takes on Claas Lilie in a bridgerweight contest, while Ashley Lloyd meets Marcus Pond and Kornelijus Sabaliauskas battles Luke Fleming in separate cruiserweight bouts. The preliminary action is rounded out by a compelling lightweight clash between Hatice Ozyurt and Jackie Cataline.
Tickets for the November 14 event at the indigo at The O2 are currently available for purchase through AXS, with the venue preparing to host another landmark night for the sport of bare-knuckle boxing.
