Lee Selby Shines in Bare Knuckle Debut as BKB 55 Delivers Action-Packed Night
Former IBF world boxing champion Lee Selby couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to bare-knuckle boxing, producing a dominant first-round knockout in the main event of BKB 55. The event featured several impressive stoppages, dramatic knockdowns, and a Fight of the Night performance that kept fans entertained from start to finish.
Selby wasted little time showing that his elite boxing pedigree translates well to the BKB ring. Facing Antonio Rizzo, the Welsh veteran immediately took control by stalking his opponent and landing crisp, accurate punches. A perfectly timed right cross produced the first knockdown before Selby continued to overwhelm Rizzo with relentless pressure. Three more knockdowns followed, with the final sequence ending after a vicious left uppercut forced the referee to wave off the contest, giving Selby an emphatic first-round knockout victory in his long-awaited bare-knuckle debut.
Daniel Lerwell earned another impressive finish by stopping Danny Mitchell in the second round. The opening frame was a gritty battle that left both men bloodied, but Lerwell turned the fight decisively in Round 2. A crushing left hook badly damaged Mitchell’s nose, leaving it visibly displaced beneath his left eye. Once the referee recognized the severity of the injury, the bout was immediately halted.
Dan Podmore showcased patience and body punching in his fifth-round TKO victory over Jarome Hatch. The contest began as a phone booth fight with both men exchanging at close range, but Podmore’s slick head movement and ability to keep Hatch at the end of his punches gradually shifted the momentum. After scoring a knockdown with a four-punch combination in the fifth round, Podmore went back downstairs with another crushing body shot that folded Hatch over, prompting the referee to step in.
Iestyn Edwards earned a unanimous decision over Ashley Williams in a competitive contest highlighted by a fourth-round knockdown that helped separate Edwards on the scorecards.
Joe Morgan overcame adversity and controversy to score a spectacular fifth-round knockout against Joe Smith. Morgan floored Smith with a left hook in the opening round and appeared to add another knockdown in the second, but an open-handed slap with extended fingers resulted in a point deduction instead. Later, another legitimate left-hook knockdown in the third was incorrectly ruled a foul. Refusing to let the officiating affect him, Morgan stayed composed before timing Smith perfectly with a crushing right cross that ended the fight in the fifth round.
Mark O’Neil needed just 26 seconds to dispatch Kamil Sokolowski. A sharp jab followed by an uppercut immediately opened a damaging cut, forcing an early stoppage and one of the quickest victories of the evening.
Fight of the Night honors belonged to Ash Davenport, who earned a unanimous decision over Tony Lafferty by scores of 49-43 and 50-42 twice. Davenport took over during the championship rounds, dropping Lafferty with booming right hands in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds to cap a dominant finish to an entertaining contest.
The preliminary card also featured plenty of action. Geraint Goodridge defeated Tom Pratt by TKO, Ethan George earned a split decision over Kornelijus Sabaliauskas, Claas Lilie stopped Dan Matthews, Ollie Sentance scored a TKO over Corey Healey, and Jordan Bell finished Tusolo Williams by TKO.
BKB 55 delivered everything fans have come to expect from the promotion: dramatic finishes, relentless action, and memorable performances. None stood out more than Lee Selby’s sensational bare-knuckle debut, as the former world champion announced himself as an immediate force in his new combat sports home.
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