LOS ANGELES and TIJUANA, Mexico (July 1,2026): BKB: Bare Knuckle Boxing today announced its entry into Mexico through a landmark partnership with Zanfer Promotions, Latin America’s premier boxing promoter. The collaboration brings the world’s fastest growing combat sports property to one of the sport’s most passionate and storied markets, and marks BKB’s first major event in the country.
The partnership will debut with a marquee event live from Tijuana, Mexico on September 19, 2026, headlined by BKB Super Cruiserweight World Champion Julian Fernandez, who will defend his world title on home soil before a Mexican crowd.
Mexico stands among the most important boxing nations in the world, with a fan base whose love of the sport runs generations deep. By aligning with Zanfer Promotions, an organization responsible for some of the biggest events and biggest names in the history of Mexican boxing, BKB enters the market with the credibility, infrastructure, and local expertise to deliver world class bareknuckle boxing to Mexican fans.
David Tetreault, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of BKB: Bare Knuckle Boxing, said: “Mexico is one of the most important boxing markets in the world, and there is no better partner to enter it with than Zanfer Promotions. Their history speaks for itself. Together we are bringing bare knuckle boxing to a country that lives and breathes this sport. Launching with a world title on the line, with Julian Fernandez defending his championship in front of Mexican fans, is exactly the statement we want to make as we plant our flag in Mexico and across Latin America.”
The launch reflects BKB’s disciplined approach to international growth. Rather than expanding indiscriminately, the promotion enters priority markets deliberately and alongside world class local partners with deep roots in the territory. In Zanfer Promotions, BKB has aligned with an organization that has shaped Mexican boxing for decades, ensuring the brand arrives with credibility from day one.
The September 19 event represents the first step in a long term commitment to building BKB in Mexico and across Latin America, expanding the promotion’s footprint beyond its established presence in the United States and United Kingdom. The move opens a significant new region for BKB’s broadcast distribution, sponsorship, and live event business.
Fernando Beltran, Founder and President of Zanfer Promotions, said: “Bringing BKB to Mexico is a natural fit. Mexican fans demand the very best in combat sports, and BKB delivers a raw, world class product unlike anything else in the market. To partner on a championship night of this caliber, and to do it in Tijuana on September 19, makes it all the more special for our fans. This is only the beginning of what we will build together.”
Julian Fernandez’s title defense anchors a card that will showcase BKB’s growing global roster, which includes marquee talent such as the Vargas brothers, Victor Ortiz, Lee Selby, Paulie Malignaggi - with more signings to be announced soon. Full details including, venue, and ticketing information will be announced in the coming weeks.
ABOUT BKB: BARE KNUCKLE BOXING
BKB:Bare Knuckle Boxing is a global combat sports property staging premium live events across the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Built on raw, authentic competition, BKB delivers world championship bare knuckle boxing to fans through a growing slate of live events and broadcast partnerships, including distribution via VICE TV, talkSPORT, and Telemundo.
ABOUT ZANFER PROMOTIONS
Zanfer Promotions is Latin America’s premier boxing promoter, having staged many of the most significant events in the history of Mexican boxing and guided the careers of some of the sport’s most celebrated Mexican champions.
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