The fast-growing combat sports promotion announced Wednesday that it will launch in Mexico through a new partnership with Zanfer Promotions, one of Latin America’s most influential boxing promoters.
The move marks BKB’s first major event in Mexico and gives the promotion a foothold in one of the world’s most passionate fight markets.
The debut event is scheduled for Sept. 19 in Tijuana, Mexico, and will be headlined by BKB World Super Cruiserweight Champion Julian Fernandez, who is set to defend his title in front of a home crowd.
For BKB, the announcement is more than a one-night event. It is a major step in the company’s international expansion strategy as it looks to grow beyond its established presence in the United States and United Kingdom.
Mexico has long been one of boxing’s great powerhouses, producing generations of world champions and some of the sport’s most loyal fans. By teaming with Zanfer Promotions, BKB enters the market with a partner that has deep local roots and decades of experience staging major fights.
“Mexico is one of the most important boxing markets in the world, and there is no better partner to enter it with than Zanfer Promotions,” BKB CEO David Tetreault said. “Their history speaks for itself. Together we are bringing bare knuckle boxing to a country that lives and breathes this sport.”
Tetreault said launching with a world title fight involving Fernandez was the right way for BKB to introduce itself to Mexican fans.
“Launching with a world title on the line, with Julian Fernandez defending his championship in front of Mexican fans, is exactly the statement we want to make as we plant our flag in Mexico and across Latin America,” he said.
The partnership also signals BKB’s intent to build a long-term presence across Latin America. Rather than simply staging a one-off event, the promotion is positioning Mexico as a key market for future live events, broadcast distribution, sponsorships and fighter development.
Fernando Beltran, founder and president of Zanfer Promotions, said the partnership is a natural fit for Mexican fight fans.
“Bringing BKB to Mexico is a natural fit,” Beltran said. “Mexican fans demand the very best in combat sports, and BKB delivers a raw, world class product unlike anything else in the market.”
The Sept. 19 card in Tijuana is expected to feature BKB’s growing international roster. The promotion has recently been linked with several major names from boxing and combat sports, including the Vargas brothers, Victor Ortiz, Lee Selby and Paulie Malignaggi.
Full details on the venue, undercard and ticketing information are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
BKB currently stages events across the United States, the United Kingdom and other international markets. Its broadcast partners include VICE TV, talkSPORT and Telemundo.
For a sport built on boxing’s oldest tradition, Mexico may prove to be one of BKB’s most important new frontiers.
