BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, in partnership with Zanfer Boxing, today announced a championship doubleheader for its historic Mexico debut on Sat., Sept. 19, 2026 at Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico. Headlining BKB 59 will be BKB Super Cruiserweight Champion and Tijuana’s own Julian Fernandez, who puts his title on the line against former three-division BKB champion Daniel “Big Pod” Podmore.
In the BKB 59 co-main event, Mexico’s Cecy Ulloa takes on Andy “The CrAsian” Nguyen for the vacant BKB Super Flyweight strap.
“Our Mexico debut deserves nothing less than two world championship fights, and that’s exactly what fans in Tijuana are getting on September 19,” said David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing. “Julian Fernandez defending his title in his hometown is the statement we wanted to make in this market, and crowning a new Super Flyweight World Champion on the same night, with Cecy Ulloa fighting for it in her home country, makes this an unforgettable night for Mexican combat sports fans.”
Fernandez (3-0) enters the Trigon on the back of his first-round knockout victory over Alex Wilson at BKB 53 last April in Niagara Falls. The son of former professional fighter Pedro “Pitbull” Fernandez, the Tijuana native turned pro in 2016 and went on to capture a National Boxing Championship with a professional boxing record of 16-4. Podmore (9-4) is a former BKB Heavyweight, Bridgerweight, and Cruiserweight Champion who is coming off a technical knockout victory over Jarome Hatch at BKB 55 in Cardiff.
Ulloa, a Puerto Vallarta native and gym owner, brings 18 years of combat sports experience and a 2-1 (1 NC) BKB record into the bout, having been ranked the No. 1 flyweight in bare knuckle boxing as recently as 2019. Opposite her is Nguyen (1-1), combat sports’ first professional Vietnamese-American female fighter and a three-time King of the Cage atomweight champion who made the move to bare knuckle after a decorated MMA career.
“Mexican fans want to see champions fight for titles, and that’s what BKB is delivering right out of the gate,” said Fernando Beltran, Founder and President of Zanfer Boxing. “Julian Fernandez defending at home, and a new world champion being crowned in the co-main, gives our fans two reasons to fill the arena on September 19. This is the start of something big for bare knuckle boxing in Mexico.”
Tickets for BKB’s Mexico debut are on sale now at BKB59.com.
