LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, the world’s leading and fastest-growing professional bare knuckle organization, makes its California debut in the heart of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, July 18 at The NOVO (LA Live, 800 W Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles, CA 90015).
Highlighting the historic night will be the Bare Knuckle Boxing debuts of two of boxing’s most exciting and accomplished superstars as Victor Ortiz and Alfredo Angulo take the gloves off for the very first time inside the world’ smallest fighting surface, BKB’s patented Mighty Trigon. Joining them will be the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, BKB two-division world champion LT “Smash” Nelson, along with former Bellator star and undefeated bare knuckle fighter Adel Altamimi, anchoring a card full of nonstop, knockout action.
David Tetreault, BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing CEO, said, “2026 has been a tipping point for BKB in terms of growth, excitement and mainstream acceptance of our sport, and debuting in Los Angeles is a tentpole moment for the organization. The starpower alone will draw fans’ attention, but the action they’ll see inside the Trigon will make it a night the combat sports world will never forget. We have the debut of the legendary Victor Ortiz. We have the always-fan favorite Alfred Angulo taking his ferocious style to the Trigon. Adel Altamimi is coming off a knockout of the night performance in London and is ready to show out in front of his home crowd. And then you have one of the greatest bare knuckle fighters to ever do it, LT “Smash” Nelson, ready to show Hollywood and the world what our sport is all about. This is a night you won’t want to miss, and one that fight fans will be talking about for years to come.”
Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs), the former WBC Welterweight World Champion, brings star power and explosive punching power to his BKB debut. A crossover personality from Dancing With The Stars, The Expendables, and Hawaii Five-0, “Vicious” Ortiz is one of America’s most charismatic fighters.
Angulo (26-8, 21 KOs), a former WBO Interim Light Middleweight Champion, is a relentless pressure fighter known for his toughness and all-action style. The Mexicali warrior boasts nearly 100 amateur fights, Olympic experience, and wars against Canelo Alvarez, Erislandy Lara, and other elites.
Tickets for BKB 56: Los Angeles are available now at bkbtickets.com/bkb56 Additional matchups will be announced in the coming weeks.
This past weekend at BKB 54: Mayhem in Manchester, BKB announced “The Summer of BKB,” a high-profile series of four major international events featuring world champions, boxing legends, and rising stars. This ambitious summer schedule highlights BKB’s rapid global momentum and its ability to attract both established legends and elite next-generation talent to iconic venues across the UK and United States. It kicks off with BKB 55 in Cardiff, Wales on June 27, headlined by the debut of former IBF Featherweight World Champion Lee Selby, followed by BKB 56 in LA, BKB 57 in London on July 25 featuring the BKB debuts of Amado and Fernando Vargas, Jr. and the return of former bare knuckle boxing heavyweight champion Mick Terrill, and capping off with the BKB debut of Olympic gold medalist and former multi-weight world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in Miami on August 29.
BKB operates with a fighter-first philosophy, prioritizing athlete welfare in a regulated, high-production environment. The organization has evolved from its 2015 origins into a globally broadcast powerhouse with landmark partnerships including talkSPORT (UK & Ireland), VICE (US & Canada), and Telemundo (US Spanish-language).
Full fight cards, ticket information, and broadcast details for each Summer of BKB event will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.bkbbareknuckle.com and follow @bkbbareknuckle on social media.
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