Former world champ fights in the UK for the first time on October 10

JoJo Diaz set for UK debut fight

BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, the world's largest professional bare knuckle boxing organization, today confirmed the complete fight card for BKB 60, live from the Utilita Arena Newcastle on Saturday, October 10 - and it comes with a genuine milestone.

Former IBF world champion Joseph "JoJo" Diaz Jr. will step into competition on British soil for the first time in his professional career, and he's doing it with the gloves off.

Diaz has fought professionally for more than a decade, compiling a 34-10-1 record against a who's-who of world-class opposition, including Devin Haney, Gary Russell Jr. and Regis Prograis, and captured the IBF Super Featherweight World Championship with a win over Tevin Farmer in 2020.

A 2012 Olympian for Team USA, every single one of his 45 professional fights to date has taken place in the United States or Mexico.

On October 10, that changes: Newcastle will be the first time the former world champion has ever fought on UK soil, in any code, gloved or bare knuckle.

Diaz made a winning BKB debut with a first-round stoppage of Nate Williams at BKB 56 in Los Angeles, and now takes on Brian Hyslop in the Super Lightweight bout.

Joseph "JoJo" Diaz Jr. said: "I've fought all over the States and in Mexico, but I've never stepped into a ring in the UK, not once in my whole career. Newcastle is going to be the first, and I'm doing it bare knuckle. This is a new chapter for me and I want the fans here to see exactly what a world champion looks like up close."

David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, said: "Getting a genuine former world champion like JoJo Diaz to make his first-ever UK appearance at our first-ever Newcastle show says everything about where this sport is heading. This is a huge moment for Newcastle and a huge statement for BKB."

Diaz's UK debut joins a loaded BKB 60 card. In the main event, Filipino champion Rolando "Dy Incredible" Dy (6-1, 5 KOs) defends the BKB Super Welterweight World Championship against the United Kingdom's own five-time BKB champion Scott "The Mute" McHugh (17-5, 7 KOs). The co-main event sees British brawler Mark O'Neil (4-4, 4 KOs) take on Poland's Kamil Sokolowski (3-1, 3 KOs) in a hard-hitting heavyweight matchup, while undefeated super welterweight Adel "Kyokushin" Altamimi (3-0, 3 KOs) faces Liam "Swanny" Howell (5-4, 4 KOs).

Tickets for BKB 60 are on sale now at BKB60.com

BKB 60 Main Card Utilita Arena Newcastle October 10 | 7PM BST (2PM ET) VICE TV (U.S.) | Telemundo (U.S.) | talkSPORT (UK & Ireland)

BKB Super Welterweight World Championship Main Event: Rolando Dy (c) vs. Scott McHugh 

Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Mark O'Neil vs. Kamil Sokolowski 

Super Lightweight: Joseph "JoJo" Diaz Jr. vs. Brian Hyslop 

Super Welterweight: Adel Altamimi vs. Liam Howell 

Super Middleweight: David Winiarski vs. Geraint Goodridge 

Super Lightweight: Jon Telfer vs. Mick Kelly 

Super Cruiserweight: Dec Spelman vs. Andrea Bicchi 

Light Heavyweight: Liam Teruel vs. Tom Pratt

BKB 60 Preliminary Card Utilita Arena Newcastle October 10 | 5:30PM BST (12:30PM ET) TikTok/@bkbbareknuckle

Light Heavyweight: Kieron Harland vs. Nathan Conroy 

Heavyweight: John Hamilton vs. Florian De La Motte 

Middleweight: Rob Barry vs. James McCorrie 

Welterweight: Logan Morgan vs. Nick Bass