Meet Joshua Oxendine: Charlotte Gym Owner, Marine Veteran, Minister, and the Lumbee Tribe’s First Professional Fighter 

Meet Joshua Oxendine: Charlotte Gym Owner, Marine Veteran, Minister, and the Lumbee Tribe’s First Professional Fighter 

Oxendine to Face Dusty Little in Co-Main Event of BYB 14: Carolina Brawl, Carolina’s First Bare Knuckle Fighting Event

Rock Hill, SC – “I like to baptize my opponents in the ring,” fighter and minister Joshua “Preacherman” Oxendine half-joked ahead of his December 9th matchup against Dusty Little at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center.  

The Carolina-based brawler is a renaissance man of sorts, carving his own unique path in life.  As a Marine wounded in combat, it took Oxendine the better part of two years and countless surgeries to learn to walk and run again, nursed back to health by his high school sweetheart Bricella, whom he married at age 19. 

Oxendine, 28, started boxing at age 14 and took up MMA at 19. Upon turning professional, he became the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s first professional fighter. In 2021, he and Bricella opened OxFitness, a functional training, kickboxing and boxing gym at 1916 Sardis Road North in Charlotte, with a mission to serve as a family-oriented facility to change the lives of people in the community and build a place where everyone feels welcomed.

Oxendine has been ministering with Casa De Avivamiento/House of Revival since 2019, and is currently working towards BA in Christian Ministries at Liberty University.

Said Oxendine, “As much as I love laying hands on people in the ring, it brings me even greater joy knowing I can use my passions to leave a positive impact on my community and the world.”

BYB 14 Carolina Brawl will take place December 9 at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Tickets are available at bybtickets.com. Last month, the South Carolina State Athletic Commission legalized bare knuckle fighting events in the state.  BYB 14 will be the first such event in the Carolinas. Undefeated super middleweights LT “Smash” Nelson and Sam “The Caveman” Liera will face off in the main event for the BYB Interim Super Middleweight. The winner will face BYB Super Middleweight champion Jose “The GOAT” Fernandez in 2023 upon Fernandez’s return to  action following surgery. 

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

###

BYB 13 Tampa Brawl For It All Results

A Pair of New Champions Crowned at BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All
Desmond Green defeats three-time BKB champion Scott McHugh to be crowned the inaugural BYB Middleweight Champion along with the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.
DJ Linderman stops Tony Lopez on a TKO/DS after the 6th Round to win BYB Heavyweight Title.   
Tampa, FL – BYB returned to the Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 19 with BYB 13 Tampa Brawl For It All featuring 9 hard-hitting bare knuckle brawls. 

  • Desmond Green knockedout Scott McHugh in the 3rd Round to become the inaugural BYB Middleweight Champion and claim the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.
  • Doctors stopped the match before fighters came out for the 7th and DJ Linderman defeated champion Tony Lopez by TKO for the BYB Heavyweight belt.
  • Monica Medina defeated Jessica Link by UD after 5 in a super featherweight women’s battle.  
  • Ukraine’s Bovar Khanakov defeated Isaac Freeman by unanimous decision in a 5-Round slugfest.  
  • Christopher Gonzalez picked up his first win in the Trigon besting John Birdsong by 1st Round KO.
  • Julio Tanori shocked and thrilled the crowd with a 2nd Round KO over Toby Misech.
  • Cub Hawkins continued his impressive run in the Trigon, remaining undefeated with a 1st Round KO over newcomer Garrett Call.
  • Art Parker defeated Matt Strickland by 1st Round TKO in a battle of heavyweights. 
  • Jarome Hatch opened the night with a 1st Round TKO over Scott O’Shaughnessy.

BYB Extreme Again Partners with Vet Tix to Offer 250 Free Event Tickets to November 19th’s BYB 13 Brawl For It All

Tampa, FL – Continuing its long-standing partnership and support of the organization, BYB announced today that it will be gifting veterans and service members 250 tickets to November 19’s BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All event through VetTix.org. Vet Tix provides tickets to currently-serving Military and Veterans from all branches, as well as to immediate family of troops KIA.

Said BYB President Mike Vazquez, “Veteran’s Day is a reminder to us all of what is really important. Through Vet Tix, we are able to show a small gesture of our appreciation to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. We are proud that a large part of our audience is composed of military members, and love the level of energy and support they bring to our shows.”

BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, November 19. Those qualified under the categories listed above who are interested in attending can visit VetsTix.org to reserve their tickets.

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

###

BYB Announces Main Event for BYB 14: Carolina Brawl

BYB Announces Main Event for BYB 14: Carolina Brawl

In a battle of undefeated brawlers, Lorawnt-t “Smash” Nelson takes on Sam “The Caveman” Liera for the BYB Interim Super Middleweight Championship.

Rock Hill, SC – BYB announced today that undefeated super middleweights LT “Smash” Nelson and Sam “The Caveman” Liera will face off in the main event of South Carolina’s first ever bare knuckle fighting event for the BYB Interim Super Middleweight. The winner will face BYB Super Middleweight champion Jose “The GOAT” Fernandez in 2023 upon Fernandez’s return to  action following surgery. 

BYB 14 Carolina Brawl will take place December 9 at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Tickets are available at bybtickets.com.  Last month, the South Carolina State Athletic Commission legalized bare knuckle fighting events in the state.  BYB 14 will be the first such event in the Carolinas. 

ABOUT BYB
Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle fighting on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

###

Ukrainian Soldier, Bare Knuckle Fighter Bovar “The Gladiator” Khanakov Opens Up about War’s Impact on Hometown of Mariupol, Tumultuous Upbringing that Lead Him to Boxing, US Debut and More

Miami, Florida – This week, BYB Extreme host and former fighter Erin Toughill sat with Bovar “The Gladiator” Khanakov, a Ukrainian soldier who fled Mariupol following the Russian Federation’s attack on the city and settled in Sacramento to pursue his combat career.  Khanakov will make his US debut on Saturday, November 19 at BYB 13: Tampa Brawl for it All at the Florida State Fairgrounds against Isaac “Puma” Freeman in a middleweight matchup.  

Khanakov opened up about the war, leaving his hometown of Mariupol after it was “destroyed by the Russian Federation,” his tumultuous upbringing that brought him to fighting, his training in Sacramento with a team that includes Urijah Faber and Viacheslav (Slava) Borshchev, what to expect in his November 19 BYB debut, and more.  Below are quotes and clips.  You can view the full episode here. 

On leaving war-destroyed Mariupol, Ukraine

“I came [to the US] because in my country there is war.  The Russian Federation destroyed my city…destroyed my home.  I didn’t plan to come to America, but because of the situation with my country, I came to America…My city, Mariupol, is all destroyed.  One [hundred] thousand people dead in my country.  This is very terrible.”  [CLIP]

“About 100,000 civilians died as a result of Russia’s attack on my city of Mariupol. We didn’t have Nazis and we lived well. Every day they destroy my country and continue to kill civilians from all types of missiles.” 

On training with and support of UFC stars Urijah Faber and (Slava) Borshchev at Alpha Male in Sacramento

“I have the best gym, Alpha Male. Urijah Faber helped me follow my dream. My manager called. He helped me to find the gym.  He introduced me to Urijah. Viacheslav (Slava) Borshchev supported me. Supported my family…gave me toys for my kid.  Now he’s training with me.  He is one of the best strikers in the world, a kickboxing world champion.  Urijah is allowing me to train in the gym and giving me all that I need.” [CLIP]

On his motivation to fight

“When I was 5-6 years old, my father drank a lot. He smashed my mother.  I see this when I was a little boy.  I wanted to protect my mother.  I went to the boxing gym.  My motivation – protect my mother…He is around my home and I was prepared to box him.  For 5 years, I trained very hard.  My father now he doesn’t smash my mother.  This is a part of life. So I train like a warrior. Sometimes I fight with my father at home.  This is my life.” [CLIP]

On his opponent Isaac Freeman

“I have a lot of experience in bare knuckle. Boxing and bare knuckle are two different sports.  There’s difference in preparing for this battle. My opponent is a boxer and I know he prepares like a boxer. But bare knuckle is not boxing…I don’t like to talk, I want to show you.  You’ll remember me.”  

“I am prepared.  I want to show America who are Ukrainian fighters.”

In addition to Khanakov-Freeman, BYB 13 will feature 10 hard-hitting fights including a pair of high profile title matches. BYB’s Desmond Green will take on BKB’s Scott McHugh for both the BYB Middleweight title and the Police Gazette World Diamond Belt. Tony Lopez, undefeated in the Trigon, makes his first heavyweight title defense as he takes on challenger DJ Linderman. 

To buy tickets, visit bybtickets.com.  The event will be broadcast live and exclusively on the Stadium App and WatchStadium.com, with prime time, multi-night replays to air on Stadium’s over the top (OTT) and over the air (OTA) platforms. To download the Stadium

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle fighting on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

###