Click Here for BKFC-50 Fight Night Photos / BKFC
DENVER, CO (Sept. 22, 2023) Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt defended his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Cruiserweight World Title for the first time with a split decision over Chris Camozzi in the main event of BKFC-50 on Friday night in front of a sold-out 1STBANK Center in Denver, CO and broadcast live internationally on the BKFC App.
The judges scored the hard-fought, back-and-forth bout 48-47, 47-48, 49-46, a split decision in favor of Hunt, who improved to 11-1 with the victory. Hunt, who is also the BKFC Light-Heavyweight World Champion, entered fight night as the No. 2 fighter on the BKFC Pound-for-Pound rankings. Camozzi, a twenty-fight UFC vet, fell to 2-1 in the squared circle after notching first-round stoppage victories in his first two outings for BKFC.
“Chris Camozzi has the career that I wanted. I was passed up by the UFC, I was passed up by other organizations. Thank you to David Feldman and the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship for making my dream come true. Thank you, Denver for having me,” an elated Hunt told the huge crowd in Denver. “I’m the best bare knuckle fighter in the world – I will die before I quit!”
In the BKFC-50 co-main event, Josh Copeland earned his second victory with a TKO victory over former World Boxing Association champ Steve Herelius in BKFC's stacked heavyweight division. The bout was stopped at 1:43 into the third round. Copeland upped his record to 2-1, while Herelius fell to 1-1.
“I give all the glory to God–he’s the reason I’m still here today,” Copeland told the rabid hometown crowd. “I love you, Denver.”
In the feature fight of the night, Marcus Edwards earned a convincing unanimous decision victory over Michael Manno in their middleweight showdown, with all three judges scoring the bout 50-45. Edwards climbed to 2-0 with the win, while Manno fell to 1-1.
Fast-rising cruiserweight Keegan Vandermeer turned heads with his second straight, first-round finish, over Dillon Winemiller who entered fight night riding high with back-to-back stoppage victories. Vandermeer scored the knockout at the one-minute mark. Winemiller’s record dropped to 2-2.
Andrew Angelcor improved his BKFC record to 3-0-1 when his lightweight bout with the debuting Brett Hudson was called to a halt by doctors after a nasty cut opened above Hudson’s eye, rendering him unable to continue. The fight was stopped at 1:09 into the first round.
Top light-heavyweight prospect Tony Jenkins cruised to 3-0 under the BKFC banner with a first-round standing TKO victory over the debuting Brian Maronek. Time of the stoppage was 1:19 of the opening stanza.
Andrew Yates improved to 2-0 with a hard-fought unanimous decision over Christian Torres in their welterweight bout. All three judges scored the fight 48-47. With the loss, Torres’ record fell to 2-5.
In women’s bantamweight action, Monica Franco edged Khortni Kamyron via split decision to take home the victory in her BKFC debut. Judges scored the bout 46-49, 48-46, 48-47. Kamyron is now 1-1-1 after suffering her first loss.
After a back-and-forth opening round in which both fighters were knocked to the canvas, debuting flyweight Andrew Strode earned the TKO win over Cary Caprio at :40 into the second round of their bout that opened the main card. Caprio’s record dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
In the final fight of the BKFC-50 prelims, Dom Carey was awarded the win via DQ just 38 seconds into his flyweight bout with Angelo Trujillo after Trujillo landed a barrage of illegal strikes to the downed Carey. Both fighters were making their BKFC debut.
In his BKFC debut, the 6-foot-6 LaMont Stafford utilized his nine-inch height advantage to take out Gabriel Mota via knockout at the :40 mark into the third round of their heavyweight contest. Mota’s BKFC record fell to 1-2 with the loss.
To kick off the proceedings Zeb Vincent earned his first BKFC victory with a first round knockout over the debuting Jessie Stalder in their middleweight matchup. Vincent improved to 1-1 with the win. Time of the stoppage was :59.
BKFC 50 Main Card Results
(c) Lorenzo Hunt defeated Chris Camozzi via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Hunt retains BKFC World Cruiserweight Title
Josh Copeland def. Steve Herelius via TKO in Round 3 (1:43)
Marcus Edwards def. Michael Manno via Unanimous Decision (50-45x3)
Keegan Vandermeer def. Dillon Winemiller via KO in Round 1 (1:00)
Andrew Angelcor def. Brett Hudson via TKO in Round 1 (1:09)
Tony Jenkins def. Brian Maronek via TKO in Round 1 (1:18)
Andrew Yates def. Christian Torres via Unanimous Decision (48-47x3)
Monica Franco def. Khortni Kamyron via Split Decision (46-49, 48-46, 48-47)
Andrew Strode def. Cary Caprio via TKO in Round 2 (0:40)
BKFC 50 Preliminary Card Results
Dom Carey def. Angelo Trujillo via DQ in Round 1 (0:38)
LaMont Stafford def. Gabriel Mota via KO in Round 3 (0:40)
Zeb Vincent def. Jessie Stalder via KO in Round 1 (0:59)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
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Media Contact/Credentials
Bernie Bahrmasel
Double B Sports
Phone: + 1 773 592-2986
Email: Bernie@BKFC.com
Twitter: @BernieBahrmasel
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
