185-lbs. of fury, put on a show in 2024.
BKFC’s light heavyweight and BYB’s cruiserweight are both set at 185-lbs. and both of them are home to some of the very best that bare knuckle has to offer. Names like Cub Hawkins, Mike Richman, Jared Warren, and Alex Wilson have kept eyes on the fights surrounding the 185-lb. division.
BKFC:
Champion: Mike Richman (7-2, 7 KO)
Defeated Erick Lozano via KO on April 12th
Defeated Jared Warren via KO on December 21st
It’s been a long time coming for Mike Richman who fought for a world title for the third time on December 21st against then champion Jared Warren. Having fought unsuccessfully against Lorenzo Hunt and David Mundell in the past, one would think that if he came up short a third time it might be his last. With that in mind, Richman went out and left no doubt, catching Warren with a sweet combination to put him down, before another finished him off inside the first round. Richman, a contender in two different divisions for two years, can finally call himself a champion going into 2025.
Contenders:
Josh Dyer is another guy like Richman who has been a contender for a very long time. He has fallen under hard times similar to the new champion with two of his high profile bouts ending in a no-contest. However after a big win over Will Albrecht in August, he may be back on the right path headed for a title shot.
Former champion Jared Warren, former title challenger Jomi Escoboza, and perennial contender Isaac Doolittle are all possibilities to fight Richman for the title if the bout with Dyer can’t materialize.
BYB:
Champion: Cub Hawkins (6-1, 6 KO)
Defeated Dan Lerwell via KO on January 18th
Defeated Zion Tomlinson via KO on December 6th
Hawkins had one of the most active years in all of bare knuckle in 2024. He won the cruiserweight title when he stopped Dan Lerwell. However the middle portion of Hawkins' year was spent down at 175, winning and then losing the title when he defeated Ryan Jett and then fell to Gregoris Cisneros. But late in the year, Hawkins reminded everyone just how good he is, when he stopped Zion Tomlinson in the fifth round, defending his title and ending the year on a high. Odds are he stays around 185 to defend his crown into the new year. But a rematch with Cisneros, or an attempt to reclaim his gold against Barrie Jones if he were to take down Cisneros, could cause the division to slow in 2025.
Contenders:
While Dan Lerwell and Zion Tomlinson are still in the mix, Alex Wilson made his return to bare knuckle this year and collected two knockouts, building his case for a big fight in early 2025. Michael “Bolo” Santos also returned after a long lay off and knocked out Art Parker in just one round.
Lerwell and Tomlinson are always names at the top of the list, but with Wilson and Santos making headway through the division it won’t be long before there’s new blood in the championship picture.
Top Photo Courtesy of BKFC.
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