BKFC RETURNS TO SOUTH CAROLINA ON OCTOBER 20! REGGIE BARNETT JR. VS. KEITH RICHARDSON HEADLINE IN BKFC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE CLASH TONY SOTO VS. KEVIN CROOM IN CO-FEATURE
Columbia, South Carolina (September 13, 2023) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, returns to South Carolina for the third time this year with BKFC-52 on Friday, October 20at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC.
BKFC-52 is headlined by the BKFC Bantamweight World Title fight between Champion Reggie ‘Educated Hands’ Barnett Jr., (9-2), of Norfolk, Virginia and Undefeated, Top Rated Contender Keith ‘The Rockstar’ Richardson, (3-0, of nearby Rock Hill, South Carolina. Co-featured at BKFC-52, Tony ‘Loco’ Soto, (5-0) and Kevin ‘Crash’ Croom, (2-0) will battle in a lightweight bout.
Tickets information for BKFC-52 can be found at BKFC.com. The Colonial Life Arena is located on the campus of the University of South Carolina at 801 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
BKFC-52 will also be broadcast internationally as part of the BKFC+ Subscription for $7.99 per month on the BKFC App – The Best Value in Combat Sports and is sponsored by Bucked Up, Fubo Sports, MIT 45, Only Fans, Crescent Tools and LIONS NOT SHEEP.
“South Carolina has been a fantastic state for BKFC this year, the fans and the fighters from that region truly love bare-knuckle fighting,” said David Feldman, President and Founder of BKFC. “Following our first two incredibly successful shows in Greenville and Myrtle Beach, we’ve moved to a much larger venue in Columbia to accommodate this tremendous event.”
“Reggie Barnett Jr. has been with BKFC right from the start in June 2018 and has developed into one of our most popular and skilled champions. However, Keith Richardson, fighting so close to his hometown presents the toughest challenge of his career, a very aggressive, powerful fighter who has two stunning first round knockouts in the last four months.”
“Our co-feature has two popular, undefeated, all-action fighters, Tony Soto and Kevin Croom both of whom are looking to continue rising in the BKFC rankings. This one will have fireworks from the opening bell with so much at stake in the lightweight division.”
Fighting in his last start at BKFC-39 on March 24, 2023, the #3 Ranked Pound-for-Pound Reggie Barnett Jr., stopped Frank Alvarez in the third round. A true bare-knuckle technician, Barnett also hold victories over Geane Herrera (BKFC-32), Jarod Grant (BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2), former boxing world champion DeMarcus Corley (BKFC-18), Abdiel Velazquez (BKFC-12), Matt Murphy (BKFC-10), Rusty Crowder (BKFC-5), Clay Burns (BKFC-2) and Travis Thompson (BKFC-1). Barnett’s only losses have come against former BKFC world champion Johnny Bedford.
Former MMA Star Keith Richardson impressed quickly in BKFC with a dominant decision over Justin Scoggins at BKFC-35 on January 27, 2023. Following up with two first round knockouts of Cody Jenkins (BKFC-42) and Derek Perez (BKFC-48), Richardson has earned his opportunity to fight for the world title.
A true fan-favorite, Tony Soto, a native of Brooklyn, NY now residing in North Carolina and the #4 Ranked Lightweight hits the squared circle following an impressive victory over heated arch-rival Tyler Goodjohn at BKFC-42 on May 12, 2023. Soldiering through his first four BKFC fights, Soto holds knockout wins over Wayna Reid (BKFC-35), Joshua Morales (BKFC-28 and Shawn Moffett (BKFC-23). Making his BKFC debut at BKFC-19, Soto defeated Joshua Sikes.
Kevin Croom, fighting out of Kansas City, Missouri has turned heads for BKFC fans with two show-stopping knockouts. Making his BKFC debut, the hard-hitting Croom stopped Sean Wilson in the second round at BKFC-33 on November 18, 2022. Most recently he knocked out Chevvy Bridges in the opening stanza at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17, 2023.
Additional fights for BKFC-52 will be announced shortly.
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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.
