The toughest females on the planet have left us with some all-time great battles.
We are just days away from the monumental clash that is Christine Ferea vs Jade Masson-Wong, September 6th, at BKFC 65 for the BKFC Flyweight Title. With fighters as powerful and as fierce as these two, fans are no doubt in for an instant classic. And so with that on the horizon, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at the history of women's bare knuckle and at least try to narrow it down to the 5 greatest fights of all time.
5. Agnesa Kirakosian vs. Jessica Link - BYB 21
Former professional boxer Agnesa Kirakosian made the move to BYB in 2023, and in just her second fight matched up with the grizzled bare knuckle veteran Jessica Link. These two warriors would throw down for the full five rounds in a bout that brought everyone in attendance to their feet. Kirakosian’s slick boxing and flawless footwork quickly gave way to an all-out slugfest with the crafty and more experienced Link. While it was Kirakosian who would get the better of most exchanges and come away with the victory, Link is not forgotten in this bout either with both of them going down in history as the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame’s Fight of the Year in 2023.
Photo Courtesy: BKFC
4. Bec Rawlings vs. Alma Garcia - BKFC 1
The first women's bout in BKFC history not only set the tone for the rest of the women's division going forward, but for the entire organization. Taking place in the company's first ever event, these two displayed just how much grit and toughness is required when you lose the gloves. The fighters would go back and forth trading massive shots from distance and in the clinch, in the end, both battered and bruised Rawlings would see her hand raised. Rawlings would go on to become a pillar of women's bare knuckle, while Garcia is yet to return to the sport but while her career might’ve stopped the legacy of the fight and the precedent that was set lives on to this day.
3. Britain Hart vs. Taylor Starling - BKFC 63
BKFC Strawweight Champion Britain Hart has done it all, headlined KnuckleMania, won a world championship and defended it multiple times as well, and while any number of her fights could make this list, her most recent bout with Taylor Starling is the one I decided to go with. On a night that had one of the largest crowds of the modern bare knuckle era, a card filled with massive heavyweights, stunning knockouts, and even an appearance from part-owner Conor McGregor, the main event of Hart vs Starling was far and away the highpoint. A perfect mix of both bare knuckle technique and fight IQ with just enough rough and tough brawling to keep the crowd as loud as they had been all night. These two threw down in style in a main event that was destined to be overshadowed by the action prior. Not only did this grudge match meet expectations but exceeded them, leaving fans and media members alike no choice but to call it one of the best ever.
2. Christine Ferea vs Helen Peralta - BKFC 7
Two of the very best in all of bare knuckle history locked up early in their bare knuckle career in a scrap that sent both of them to the top of any list involving excitement or ability in a bare knuckle ring. Both would score knockdowns in the contest and show why they are two of the most dangerous females not just in bare knuckle but in all combat sports disciplines. Peralta would eventually earn the decision and the Police Gazette Title that was on the line, the real prize is that to this day she is the only person to ever defeat Ferea in a bare knuckle fight. Peralta is now the current BYB Champion while Ferea has had a firm grip on BKFC’s, these two future hall of farmers put themselves on the map early in an all-time tilt, and showed it wasn’t a one off with the continued dominance throughout their careers. With Peralta fighting in BYB and Ferea in BKFC, it’s unlikely the stars will align for a rematch but with how good this one was, maybe we don’t need it anyway.
Photo Courtesy: BYB
1. Paty Juarez vs. Monica Medina - BYB 10
A fight that sparked possibly the greatest trilogy we will ever see in bare knuckle, Juarez and Medina went to depths that few could ever return from. A wild crowd kept these two brawlers going strong through seven rounds of hell, with every punch looking like it could be the last. The words I could put on this page would hardly do it justice and luckily for us you can watch the entire trilogy on BYB’s youtube page, but if you only have the time to watch one, make it the first one. Medina would fight valiantly but ultimately, Juarez would come away with the split decision victory and would kickstart a rematch and rubber match that may not be touched for all of bare knuckle history. The number one slot was a tough choice not only with the others on this list, but the rest of this pair's battles. Ultimately the tipping point is the fact that the first was so nice, you had to see it twice (and a third time).
Top Photo Courtesy of BKFC.
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