The stage is set for an explosive night of bare-knuckle action as Amado Fernando Vargas and Callum Nulty prepare to throw down in the highly anticipated co-main event of BKB 61. Scheduled to take place in London on November 14th, the matchup brings together two determined fighters with contrasting momentum, contrasting expectations, and a mutual willingness to leave everything inside the squared circle.
Ahead of their impending collision, the fighters took center stage during the fight week media day for Bare Knuckle Bowker. The promotional stop offered both athletes a final platform to field questions from the press, address their training methodologies, and exchange verbal jabs before stepping into the brutal and unforgiving world of gloveless combat.
For Vargas, the journey to BKB 61 involves a blend of high-level preparation and unique sparring partnerships. Ahead of the London event, Vargas touched upon his training relationship with BKFC champion Jamel Herring. The two have spent considerable time working together, workshop techniques specifically tailored to help traditional gloved boxers optimize their skillsets and adapt successfully to the nuanced demands of bare-knuckle fighting.
Addressing the media regarding his philosophy on fighting and how perspectives shift once the fists start flying, Vargas offered a reflective yet confident outlook on the matchup.
“Well, I think everybody has their own opinion and perspectives on fighting,” Vargas said. “I think when you fight, it’s totally different than what people say. I could say it’s red, but to somebody else, it would be green. So, it’s just different. I think it’s all about the way you throw down and just, it’s different. It’s a different thing for everybody. So, I’m definitely excited. I love the trash talk from my guy Callum and I can’t wait to fight this Saturday.”
Amado Fernando Vargas is the betting favorite but Callum Nulty seeks redemption
As the fighters step closer to opening bell, oddsmakers have installed Amado Fernando Vargas as the clear betting favorite heading into the co-main event. However, status means little once the referee signals the start of a bare-knuckle bout, and Callum Nulty enters the contest with everything to gain. For Nulty, the fight represents a crucial opportunity to secure the most prominent and defining victory of his professional career thus far.
Nulty is no stranger to the hardships associated with the sport. He is returning to bare-knuckle competition after well over a year away from the discipline, following a difficult debut setback in gloveless combat that left a distinctly sour taste in his mouth. Rather than shying away from the challenges of that initial experience, Nulty has embraced the opportunity for redemption. He has used the time away to recalibrate, refocus, and steel himself for the realities of stepping back into the fray against top-tier competition.
Reflecting on the redemptive nature of his return and the unpredictable dynamics of bare-knuckle fighting, Nulty expressed absolute clarity about the task ahead of him.
“Yeah, I mean even if I don’t get the ideal outcome,” Nulty stated. “Like I said, I’m here for a fight. First time, I wasn’t prepared for that fight, but this time I know what I’m stepping into. I know what to expect. I know he’s top level, but it’s bare knuckle, isn’t it? It’s not gloves. It’s not gloves and anything could happen. But like I said, even if the outcome isn’t on my side, it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be remembered. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.”
With the media obligations concluded and the war of words finally giving way to the reality of fight night, both men know that opinions, odds, and predictions will dissolve the moment they face each other in London. For Vargas, the bout is a chance to validate his high-level preparation and cement his standing alongside elite names in the sport. For Nulty, it is a long-awaited shot at redemption, an opportunity to rewrite his narrative, and a promise to deliver an unforgettable war on November 14th.
