Latest news with #bareknuckle
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Conor Benn sensationally calls out UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria to a BARE-KNUCKLE fight ahead of his rematch against Chris Eubank Jr
Conor Benn insists any UFC fighter 'can come and get it' in a bare-knuckle fight, as he sensationally called out Ilia Topuria. Benn will be back in camp soon, with just over three months left until his rematch against Chris Eubank Jr on November 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The two British rivals locked horns in one of the most scintillating fights in recent history in April, with Eubank Jr coming out on top via unanimous decision. While Benn seeks to settle the score later this year, he appears to have one eye on Topuria. The Spaniard is the UFC's No 1 pound-for-pound fighter, has a 9-0 record in the promotion, and has beaten the likes of Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. 'Whoever of these f***ing UFC fighters want to come over to boxing... dangerous game,' Benn said, before throwing a flurry of bare-knuckle punches at a heavy bag. 🚨 Conor Benn calls out Ilia Topuria for a boxing match and suggests bare knuckle: 'If anyone wants to come over from the UFC, Ilia Atora, I've got these hands, brother.' 'Disrespect us boxers? You're getting it.' via @ConorNigel — ACD MMA (@acdmma_) August 7, 2025 He then name-dropped the UFC lightweight champion, and said that it would take £10million for him to agree to the crossover. It is believed that he received an £8m windfall after his defeat by Eubank earlier this year. Benn continued: 'Or any of these MMA lot that want to come over to boxing - if you fancy some of it, you can come and get it. Nasty. F`***ing bare knuckle. Bare knuckle. 10 bar, 10 bar. Sign me up, I'll fight anybody bare knuckle. 'Anyone wants to come over from the UFC, I've seen a lot of people talk about Ilia Topuria. Ilia, I've got these hands, brother. 'Disrespect us boxers? You're getting it. Anybody wants this smoke, anybody who wants to come over, no problem.' Benn then conceded that, while he welcomes a bout in the ring against almost anyone, he would not even think about entering the octagon to test his luck against an MMA fighter. The 28-year-old added: 'Listen, I ain't stupid enough to go in the cage. I would never go in the cage. You won't catch me getting in the cage.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle bare-knuckle boxing champion announces retirement
Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer Danny Christie has announced his retirement from the BKFC. The 40-year-old former UK champion says he will no longer fight on the major bare-knuckle platform. Christie announced his decision following his recent defeat in a British welterweight title fight against Connor Tierney. The Currock fighter initially retired last autumn only to reverse his decision to take on Tierney. Now Christie is stepping down from the top bare-knuckle scene again. "The time has come for me not to compete any more," said the Cumbrian on his YouTube channel. "I'm retiring from the BKFC. "I'm not going to compete any more in bare-knuckle. "I just don't feel like I've got anything left to do in this game. "Never, ever in my wildest dreams or imagination could I ever have envisioned me doing what I've done in the BKFC. "What an honour and a privilege it's been to be one of the names that's helped pioneer this company in the UK and make it what it is today. "Bare-knuckle is where it's at. I love the BKFC. I love the sport, I love the game. Christie defeated Anthony Holmes to win the British light-heavyweight BKFC title in 2023, and has also had title fights in other weight divisions (Image: BKFC) "I've had some brilliant feedback from the BKFC. They've made a position available to me, working with the company in the UK, which is massive, and brilliant. It's what I wanted to do. "I'm an ambassador for the BKFC. But I've decided enough's enough." Christie said he had "retired" after previous fights but added: "There's only so many times I can keep doing this. "There's only a certain amount of training camps that you're willing to put yourself through." Christie became the British light-heavyweight champion in 2023 when, after victories over Terry Brazier and Darren Godfrey, he defeated Anthony Holmes in Leeds to take the belt. After defeat to American fighter Jared Warren, he successfully defended his British title against David Round. Christie then moved to middleweight and defeated Jimmy Millar, earning a world title shot where he was beaten by American star David Mundell. That fight last October prompted Christie to retire but he returned to take on Tierney in Birmingham last month. Home-city favourite Tierney got the better of Christie by technical knockout in the fourth round of a closely-contested and ferocious fight. After nearly three weeks since that fight the Carlisle boxer has now reached his decision to call it a day. "I've just headlined two shows back to back," he added. "I've got no interest in going back and fighting some randomer on the middle of a card somewhere. "No disrespect to the lads who are doing that, but I've come such a long way." Christie said he will "still be in the game," with the Currock man having been working with up-and-coming Carlisle fighter Kieron Sewell, who has just signed a deal to join the BKFC.
