BYB Extreme Fighting Series kicks off the New Year in style with BYB 35: “Albuquerque Brawl” on Sat., Jan. 11, 2025 at Revel ABQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Leading the charge is the headlining showdown pitting South African world champion LT “Smash” Nelson opposite British bruiser James “The Truth” Connelly, a bareknuckle rematch from their “Fight of the Year” draw at BYB 19: “Brawl in the Pines” in August 2023.
Nelson, who also holds the BYB middleweight title, will be putting his BYB Super Middleweight Police Gazette Diamond Belt up for grabs in January’s slugfest.
Here’s how they match up:
NAME: Lorawnt-t (LT) “Smash” Nelson
DATE OF BIRTH: 5/17/90
WEIGHT: 165
REACH: 75”
STANCE: Orthodox
HOMETOWN: Broken Arrow, OK
BIRTHPLACE: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
PRESENT TRAINER(S): Forza Combat Sports
BARE KNUCKLE: 6-1-1
KICKBOXING: 10-3
BOXING: 5-4
MMA: 10-7
LETHWEI: 3-0
MUAY THAI: 3-1
NAME: James “The Truth” Connelly
DATE OF BIRTH: 02/26/1986
HEIGHT: 5’11
STANCE: Switch
HOMETOWN: Birmingham, England
BIRTHPLACE: Birmingham, England
PRESENT TRAINER(S): Connelly’s gym (Michael Connelly)
BARE KNUCKLE: 6-5-1
AMATEUR BOXING: 64 amateur fights (won 51)
Expect more BYB 35 fight card announcements in the coming days.