Traditional boxing has been one of the disciplines that has brought the most sporting success to Cuba throughout history. But now, gladiators who enter the ring without gloves try to mark a before and after in a much more violent variation of the competition.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship will dress up next Thursday, June 4 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the city of Miami to celebrate a new edition of a promotion that is gaining more and more momentum as the years go by.
On this occasion, the card will be headlined by a duel between Bryce Henry and Julian Lane in the welterweight division; However, it is possible that for the large number of Latin fans in the “City of the Sun” the attention will focus on two fights that will take place much sooner.
First, Julio Pérez Rodríguez will look to return to winning ways in a difficult clash against Lamont Stafford in the cruiserweight category.
After winning his first three fights in BKFC, all by way of finish, the “Cuban Horse” has been knocked out in his last two fights. Now, the Antillean arrives with the mission of raising his arm again in a sign of victory, something he has not achieved since March 2025.
“I am preparing in the best way to make my people proud,” Pérez said in a talk with Diario Las Américas. “I feel very confident heading into this fight and I’m sure that things will go the way I want,” he added.
For his part, a little higher on the card will be his compatriot Gustavo Balart, who will face Alexander Gutiérrez in the flyweight division. The “Gladiator” will make his debut in the company after a solid career as a Cuban Olympic representative in wrestling and as a mixed martial arts fighter.
“I feel that mixed martial arts can be much more complex due to the number of tools required,” Balart said about what motivated him to venture into this form of bare-knuckle boxing. “I’m here to reach the top and be a champion. I know I have the ability and I’m going to show again what I’m made of.”
In the end, the two athletes have the place where the event will take place as a special incentive. Miami serves as home for both fighters, as well as for thousands and thousands of Cubans, some of whom will be present at the evening.
“I’m very excited to be able to fight in Miami again,” said Balart, who in his most recent fight, in the MMA One Championship promotion, was defeated in a title fight. “I know our people will be there for us and we’re going to give them a show like no other.”
It is an emotion shared by Pérez, who debuted in BKFC in March 2024, in a fight that lasted just 30 seconds, 17 more than the time it took him to knock out his second rival in September of that same year.
“Everyone who goes can be sure that we are going to give our best and when the night is over, we will be raising our arms and our flag,” Pérez concluded.
