On September 21st, Mark Irwin gets his shot at revenge against Julio Tanori.
Ever so often in combat sports, you come across a bout that reminds you exactly why you watch in the first place. At the same time, it also makes you reassess what it takes to step into the ring. Or in this case, the mighty trigon.
For Julio Tanori and Mark “the Shark” Irwin, their firefight in December of 2023 will live on in the annals of bare knuckle history. It was a brutal yet exciting display of what this sport can be at its very best. Although Tanori came away with the victory to go along with Irwin’s title, both men left something in the ring that night.
But for every bout, adrenaline pumping or not, there’s the other half that doesn’t get to enjoy the fruits of victory. Instead, forced to go back to the drawing board where they must relive their shortcomings.
In Mark Irwin’s case, this sentiment is all too true after suffering his first loss as a bare knuckler that fateful night. A former world champion who began his combat journey as a boxer, Irwin found his footing in the ungloved ranks when he signed with BKFC in late 2021. He hit the ground running, earning a second round stoppage in his debut.
Shortly after in 2022, “the Shark” made the transition over to BYB where he would test his skills in the aforementioned trigon. In just his second fight, Irwin earned another knockout, this time in the first round. Although it had only been two fights, it was clear the Huntington Beach product displayed the attributes of a star. Don’t believe me? In just his third bare knuckle fight, Irwin took on Joshua Oxendine for the BYB Lightweight World Championship, winning via unanimous decision.
He finishes fights and talks trash. He dyes his hair leopard print and is covered head to toe in tattoos. From a spectator's perspective, he snatches people’s attention before he even throws a punch. But don’t get it twisted, Irwin has taken the necessary steps in order to position himself where he is. Even if he had to take a detour.
Prior to his venture into the sweet science, Irwin was a track athlete in college when he was faced with the age-old question: what now? Much like most bare knucklers, he was at a crossroads in his life and was in need of a change. Which suddenly came in the form of boxing.
The Shark instantly fell in love with the sport and even earned a stoppage in his lone professional bout, which comes as no surprise given how he burst onto the bare knuckle scene. It would serve as the perfect precursor to his quest in BK.
Photo Courtesy: BYB Extreme
In addition, Irwin trains under the tutelage of former UFC flyweight Ian McCall. If Irwin himself doesn’t have the combat experience of his peers, he gains it through his coaching staff via former TPF world champion McCall who twice fought UFC legend Demetrious Johnson, with one being a draw.
Of course, the only one in the water is the Shark, but having that experience in your corner is incredibly helpful for a setting where some of the competition is still adjusting to the discipline. Even more so for someone like Irwin, who has solidified himself amongst the best of bareknuckle’s lightweights and is one the verge of potentially another world championship.
Now, fast forward nearly a year after their “Fight of the Year”, Tanori and Irwin reconvene for perhaps another bare knuckle classic. It’s hard to top the pace these two put on last year, but at the same time, some fighters are simply made for each other (e.g. Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward).
Will they replicate the carnage we saw the first time around?
It’s hard to tell. Perhaps both fighters employ a conservative approach to minimize damage and aim to win via point fighting. Or they opt to go for the finish, eliminating any controversial judging.
Being the challenger who just lost his belt, it’s difficult to speak on how Irwin may approach this bout. His power punching style never led him astray but after a fight like the one he had with Tanori last year, there’s reason to believe he’ll reel it back a bit.
I mean after all, the hematoma left on his head that night was on par with special effects you’d see in a James Cameron film.
Photo Courtesy: BYB Extreme
On a serious note, a fight like that is a double edged sword. It’s amazing to witness in real time but you can’t help but think about the price that was paid for our entertainment. From the fighters perspective, I’d imagine Mark Irwin has also thought about that price. He physically suffered the most, while also losing his world title.
Bouts like that certainly remind you of why you watch, but they also remind you people like Mark Irwin don’t grow on trees.
Top Photo Courtesy of BYB Extreme
Comments