Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua Could Be the Future of Bare Knuckle Fighting

Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua Could Be the Future of Bare Knuckle FightingBKFC boss David Feldman sees a future where Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua are all toeing the…

Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua Could Be the Future of Bare Knuckle Fighting

BKFC boss David Feldman sees a future where Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua are all toeing the line for his bare-knuckle fight group.

In recent years, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has made some big strides toward becoming one of the premiere combat sports organizations in the U.S. Aside from getting the brutal sport sanctioned in 25 states since its inception in 2018, BKFC has seen an influx of ex-MMA stars like Eddie Alvarez, Luke Rockhold, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry make their way into the squared circle.

mike perry luke rockhold bkfc 41

Of course, you can’t talk about BKFC these days without mentioning Conor McGregor. Earlier this year, the Irish megastar revealed that he is a part-owner of the ever-growing organization and has made regular appearances at BKFC events both stateside and overseas.

Conor McGregor

Recently, BKFC founder David Feldman shared some pretty lofty goals for the organization’s future — the most logical of which would see McGregor step inside the squared circle as a competitor rather than an owner.

His others just so happen to include two of the biggest names in the boxing game today.

“The best people would be Conor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua,” Feldman told World Boxing News. “Anthony Joshua did an interview and said my first favorite sport is boxing, and my second favorite is bare-knuckle fighting. He said it to the public. There’s guys like that out there, and I don’t think it’s far-fetched to see some of the best boxers in history, or best MMA fighters in history, take the gloves off and fight for BKFC. I don’t think that’s far-fetched.”

Anthony Joshua

Feldman says stars like Fury, Joshua, and conor McGregor fighting in BKFC is ‘only a matter of time’

Bagging athletes like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury may seem unlikely, but the BKFC has proven to be a strong draw for athletes who have entered the twilight of their respective careers. Perhaps one day when ‘AJ’ and ‘The Gypsy King’ are no longer guaranteed draws in boxing, they can continue to find success — and big bags of cash — fighting for Feldman and McGregor.

“I don’t want to drop the names, but Conor McGregor — he’s out there, and he says it,” Feldman continued. “‘I’m a player-manager. I’m going to fight bare knuckle.’ It’s only a matter of time that him, Fury, Joshua … who knows?

“I’m not saying they are going to do it, and not saying they’ll not do it, but I think there’s a good shot of any combat sports athlete in the whole world now doing Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, I really do.”

skysports tyson fury derek chisora 5986129

Daniel Dubois Calls Out Jake Paul – Legitimate Heavyweight Title Fight on the Horizon?

Daniel Dubois Calls Out Jake Paul - Legitimate Heavyweight Title Fight on the Horizon?After beating ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, is a shot at the IBF heavyweight title next for Jake Paul? Last weekend,…

Daniel Dubois Calls Out Jake Paul - Legitimate Heavyweight Title Fight on the Horizon?

After beating ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, is a shot at the IBF heavyweight title next for Jake Paul?

Last weekend, ‘The Problem Child’ went eight rounds with the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ in what was one of the most-watched combat sports events of all time. Paul bested Tyson via unanimous decision, moving to 11-1 and scoring the biggest win of his professional boxing career thus far — even if it did come against a 58-year-old man who had been retired for the better part of 20 years.

Jake Paul

Since Paul’s victory, a slew of fighters have been coming out of the woodwork determined to end Paul’s run and prove once and for all that he can’t hang with a legitimate boxer who isn’t a few years away from collecting social security.

Jake Paul Tells Dubois to ‘Get in line’

Enter Daniel Dubois, a multi-time heavyweight titleholder who is looking to give Paul his biggest opportunity yet inside the squared circle.

“Hi Jake. Good business on the weekend but how would you feel fighting for the legitimate heavyweight championship of the world? This is Daniel Dubois calling you out. Let’s get it on,” Dubois wrote in a DM shared by Paul on X.

Jake Paul
Jake Paul

In response, Paul sent an image of a tape measure alongside the message: “Get in line.”

He added, “Man been boxing for 12 years, has over 100 fights between amateur and pro and fought on my undercard… hahaha. But f*ck it… I’m going to have Nakisa talk to Frankie Warren and get you in line for the throne. Unlike Artur, at least you have a few thousand fans.”

22-2 in his pro career, Dubois is coming off his biggest win yet — a fifth-round knockout against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September.

gettyimages 2172786243 612x612 1

After Manny Pacquiao Match, Rukiya Anpo Will Next Face Ryan Garcia in RIZIN

Manny Pacquiao Match, Rukiya Anpo Will Next Face Ryan GarciaRyan Garcia will take part in an exhibition match on December 30 in Tokyo. He’ll face Rukiya Anpo who…

Manny Pacquiao Match, Rukiya Anpo Will Next Face Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia will take part in an exhibition match on December 30 in Tokyo. He’ll face Rukiya Anpo who is a former K-1 kickboxing champion at RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event hosted in Tokyo, Japan. The fight will be at 153 pounds and last for eight rounds, with each round being two minutes long.

Rukiya Anpo vs. Ryan Garcia

Japan’s Rukiya Anpo is an experienced kickboxer who started in martial arts with Kyokushin Karate when he was just a child and would eventually earn national titles in the sport. As a professional kickboxer, Anpo would become a world champion in K-1 and was a fan favorite due to his impressive high kick knockouts.

Manny Pacquiao gets battered against Rukiya Anpo - Super Rizin 3 Highlights

Earlier this year, Rukiya Anpo had an exhibition boxing match against the legendary Manny Pacquiao in RIZIN. The Japanese athlete had a size advantage and won the vast majority of this match but it was scored a draw as per the exhibition rules. On New Year’s Eve, the kickboxer will next face Ryan Garcia.

Rukiya Anpo Ryan Garcia

Ryan Garcia is unable to compete in official matches as he is suspended. This happened after he tested positive for a banned substance earlier this year, right before his fight against Devin Haney. That fight ended in controversy—Garcia initially won but later had the result overturned. Garcia is a controversial fighter known for spreading hate speech online. Prior to that, he was a promising young boxer with an 85% knockout win rate and a mean left hook.

“I’m looking forward to knocking Anpo out for trying to knock out the legend Manny Pacquiao,” Ryan Garcia explained, “Manny is past his prime, and for him to try to knock him out rubbed me the wrong way. I will knock him out and teach [Anpo] a lesson of respect.”

‘Don’t Be Silly’ Francis Ngannou Laughs at Jake Paul Fight Rumors

Francis Ngannou Laughs at Jake Paul Fight RumorsHeavyweight king Francis Ngannou was picked as a potential future opponent for Jake Paul in the boxing ring. But…

Francis Ngannou Laughs at Jake Paul Fight Rumors

Heavyweight king Francis Ngannou was picked as a potential future opponent for Jake Paul in the boxing ring. But in a recent interview, the boxer and MMA fighter Ngannou laughed off the proposition.

Francis Ngannou Laughs at Jake Paul Fight Rumors

Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou is the current PFL MMA heavyweight champion having captured the crown by way of first-round knockout., Additionally, he was the former UFC heavyweight champion who never lost this title and was highly feared for his knockout power in the cage. ‘The Predator‘ has also faced top-ranked boxing royalty such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury in blockbuster matches.

‘The Problem Child’ Jake Paul was a YouTube celebrity who switched to a career in professional boxing which was boosted by his social status. Along the way, he has defeated former UFC fighters such as Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley.

gettyimages 2184347970 612x612 1
TOPSHOT – US retired pro-boxer Mike Tyson (L) and US YouTuber/boxer Jake Paul (R) fight during the heavyweight boxing bout at The Pavilion at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, November 15, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) / ALTERNATE CROP (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Most recently, Jake Paul defeated the 58-year-old boxing legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in a Netflix boxing event. Tyson and Ngannou are friends and have trained alongside one another. After Tyson lost to Paul, Ngannou said he was going to slap ‘The Problem Child’ the next time he is with him.

Francis Ngannou PFL
Photo by Tim Wheaton

However, in a recent TMZ interview, Francis Ngannou finds that a potential boxing match against Jake Paul is a silly idea. He said:

Don’t Be Silly. Come on, like, respect me a little bit. [Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson] was entertaining, whether you like it or not. There was a curiosity to see Mike Tyson at this age; can he stand? Can he, can he? And they did entertain.

It seems more likely that Ngannou will next be facing former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder or step back into the smart cage with the PFL. Boxing or MMA are both on the table for the heavyweight king.

Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Photo by Tim Wheaton

Veteran Kickboxer Nieky Holzken Challenges Jake Paul: If You’re Fighting the Elderly, Fight Me

nieky holzken Jake PaulThe 40-year-old former Kickboxing world champion Nieky Holzken is looking to face Jake Paul, as ‘The Problem Child’ is…

nieky holzken Jake Paul

The 40-year-old former Kickboxing world champion Nieky Holzken is looking to face Jake Paul, as ‘The Problem Child’ is looking to face the elderly. After his victory over the 58-year-old Mike Tyson, Jake Paul has no opponent scheduled but ‘The Natural’ is looking to be next.

Nieky Holzken Challenges Jake Paul

‘The Problem Child’ Jake Paul is a YouTuber who used his celebrity status to earn blockbuster boxing matches. He has been able to defeat former UFC UFC fighters such as Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley in his career. Most recently, live on Netflix, he out-boxed veteran boxer ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson who is 58 years old.

‘The Natural’ Nieky Holzken has taken issue with Jake Paul and is looking to be next in line for a boxing match. The 40-year-old Dutch-born striker Holzken has had an incredible career in kickboxing. Over 22 years, he has competed in a whopping 112 professional bouts, in addition to another 15 in professional boxing.

nieky holzken champ

A true veteran of combat sports who has competed in ONE Championship, K-1 World MAX, It’s Showtime and held a division title in GLORY Kickboxing. Everywhere Holzken has competed he has been perpetually a top-ranked contender.

nieky holzken

In his most recent bout, he took on veteran athlete Yoshihiro Akiyama in a four-ounce boxing gloves match and needed less than two minutes to knock him out. Now, Holzken is looking to challenge Jake Paul. On X, he Tweeted:

“What a pussy you are to fight someone who is 58 and can’t knock him out stop making excuses. A perfect business man you’re [Jake Paul] but that’s where it ends for me … I’m glad Tyson didn’t get knocked out or take any damage. It’s time for a real opponent now.”

Sydney Thomas Ring Girl for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is Stunned by Newfound Fame

Sydney Thomas Ring Girl for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is Stunned by Newfound FameThe ring girl for the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match, Sydney Thomas, became an overnight viral sensation…

Sydney Thomas Ring Girl for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is Stunned by Newfound Fame

The ring girl for the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match, Sydney Thomas, became an overnight viral sensation after the Netflix broadcast. The model gained over 200,000 followers on TikTok alone and was stunned by this newfound fame.

Who is Sydney Thomas?

Sydney Thomas is a 20-year-old model and ring girl who gained massive attention during the recent Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing event. She stood out among the five ring girls at the fight, becoming a viral sensation on social media. Before the event, Sydney was already popular, with a significant following on TikTok and Instagram. However, her presence at the fight led to an explosion in her follower count.

Sydney Thomas 2

Sydney is currently a student at the University of Alabama and has also worked as a model, including an appearance at Miami Swim Week earlier this year. Sydney first gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where she shares lifestyle content, college-themed videos, and fashion posts.

Sydney Thomas

Sydney Thomas

Sydney Thomas Jake Paul Mike Tyson Ring girl

Sydney posted on TikTok and Instagram to thank her fans for the love and support. She shared her surprise at going viral, joking about waking up to find herself trending. Within a day of the boxing event, her Instagram followers increased from 237,000 to over 400,000, while her TikTok following grew to over 800,000.

Sydney Thomas 6
sydney thomas tiktok

Stunned by the outpouring of love from fans, she commented:

I woke up to an overwhelming amount of love and support from all of you. I can’t thank you guys enough or begin to express how grateful I am. I love you all — thank you for your kind words.

While the fight itself received mixed reactions and was quite a dud, therefore Sydney Thomas became one of its standout moments, with fans praising her presence.

Mike Tyson Jake Paul Lexi WIlliams Ring Girls Sydney Thomas