A look into my leaders for the Fighter of the Year award.
The end of the year is fast approaching which means award season is nearly upon us. While the actual awards will be voted on by all of the BK Nation staff, I thought I would share my standings for the Male Fighter of the Year award, and give some insight into who you could see winning this award after the votes are tallied.
1. Alberto Blas - 2024 Record: 3-0, 3 KO
3-0 on the year with a combined fight time of three minutes and six seconds. Not only did he defeat all three opponents with jaw dropping speed, but the level of opponents is what sets him apart as the leader, at least in my eyes. In February, he beat former world title challenger Daniel Alvarez in 60 seconds flat. In June, he defeated undefeated champion Keith Richardson in 70 seconds, handing him his first defeat and taking his Bantamweight championship in the process. In September, he bested 6-0 undefeated contender Ryan Reber in 56 seconds. Three tough opponents, three flawless performances from Blas, crushing all of them in an average of 62 seconds. He is my fighter of the year.
2. LT Nelson - 2024 Record: 2-0, 2 KO
Lorawnt-T “Smash” Nelson started his year late, not making his first appearance until May at BYB 26. However it was worth the wait when he smashed Tommy Turner in just one round, claiming the 168-lb BYB title, his second active division conquered. Then came the biggest win of his life, a second round knockout of Barrie Jones, held by many as the best bare knuckler of the modern era. Jones got off to a hot start in the first, before Nelson started turning up the pressure in the second round and into the third. Nelson would eventually put down the “Welsh Wrecking Machine” winning by emphatic KO. One of the biggest wins of the year across all of bare knuckle, mixed with him claiming a world title in a second division against Turner.
3. Austin Trout - 2024 Record: 2-0
While Blas had both quality wins and a good quantity, Trouts case is centred more around the quality. In February, he dethroned the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, Luis Palomino. Not only did he beat him but he, at times, made him look foolish. To defeat the 11-0 champion in the fashion he did already could be the “win” of the year. He would follow that up defending his title in October when he defeated the accomplished bare knuckle veteran Rico Franco in another smooth, flawless victory. Two victories, one to win the title, and another to defend it. But with him not scheduled for the rest of the year, it might be hard to find the votes for just two wins, neither of them being knockouts.
4. Gustavo Trujillo - 2024 Record: 2-0, 2 KO
“The Cuban Assassin” Gustavo Trujillo put his knuckleprints all over the BYB landscape in his first year with the promotion. Arriving after more than two years away from bare knuckle, he smashed Levi Da Costa in just one round, improving his record to 5-0, all by first round knockout. Following that win, he drew into BYB Heavyweight Champion Ike Villanueva. And just like the five before him, he fell in just one round. While two first round stops, including an active champion as one of them is enough to get you into these talks anyway, where Trujillo is a wild card is he is set to defend his title on December 6th against Richie Leak. Leak, was the active BKB heavyweight champion pre merger, and a win in the same fashion as the other two he’s had this year could solidify Trujillo’s case.
5. Marko Martinjak - 2024 Record: 2-0, 2 KO
Three fights, three wins, three knockouts. However the strength of schedule leaves a lot to be desired, at least in regards to the rest of the list. He still cracks my Top 5, because weak schedule or not, he has taken care of business and smashed all opponents in the first round. Given how active he has been able to stay, and the new merger between BYB and BKB, there's a chance he could lock this award down for 2025.
Comments