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Rolando Dy Becomes First-Ever Bare Knuckle Boxing World Champion from the Philippines; Joins Former WBC Super Featherweight Champion Rolando Navarrete as First Father-Son Duo to Hold Boxing/Bare Knuckle World Championships

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BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing finished out its historic 2025 Friday night December 5 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Vale Arena in Cardiff, Wales with BKB 49: Dance of the Dragons.

In the main event, Rolando Dy defeated Liam Rees in front of Rees’ home crowd to become BKB Super Welterweight champion.  In doing so, Dy, son of former WBC Super Featherweight Champion Rolando Navarrett, made history, becoming the first bare knuckle boxing world champion from the Philippines. The duo becomes the first father-son pair to hold world championships in boxing and bare knuckle.

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In the evening’s fight of the night, two of BKB’s best young Super Middleweights brought the crowd to its feet as Wales’ Keiron Harding out-slugged Scotland’s David Winiarski, winning by third round TKO by doctor’s stoppage.

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Simey Doherty defeated Kallum Skhane by split decision in a closely-fought matchup showcasing each’s technical boxing abilities.

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Bellator/PFL veteran Lee Chadwick put BKB on notice after his impressive first-round knockout in his bare knuckle debut against Rob Boardman.

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In a battle of Welsh heavyweights, up-and-coming Troy Palmer defeated gloved and bare knuckle veteran Dorian Darch by third-round knockout.

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Jack Marshman, the first Welsh fighter to compete in the UFC, made quick work of 19-bare knuckle fight veteran Paul Hilz in what was to be his retirement match, before leaving the door open to a return in his post-fight interview

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A new bare knuckle star was born in the show’s opener as 21-year-old Iestyn Edwards, brother of 17-1 boxer Rhys Edwards, earned knockout of the night with a first round KO over Joe Randall in his professional debut.

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Preliminary Matches

Slovakia’s Robert Koky picked up his second straight win in the Trigon with a unanimous decision over Tom Pratt.

Ethan George impressed in his debut with a big first-round body-shot knockout of Shaun Rafferty.

Corey Healey-Marcin Kosiak ended in no contest after an inadvertent second-round takedown resulted in injury to Healey.

Geraint Goodridge defeated Ruairi McCarthy by second-round TKO.