MIAMI, FLORIDA AND BELFAST, NEW YORK – BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the modern-day originators of bare knuckle fighting in the US and largest bare knuckle fighting organization in the world, announced today that it has acquired the rights to the Police Gazette Diamond Belt. The Police Gazette Diamond Belt dates back to 1881 and is considered the first title belt awarded in all of combat sports. Since 2016, Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame President Scott Burt has overseen the distribution and historical preservation of the Police Gazette Diamond Belt from Belfast, New York, home of the restored John L. Sullivan training facility from the 1880’s and the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.
This past May, BYB acquired England’s BKB, the oldest, active bare knuckle company in the world, now making BYB the largest company both domestically and internationally in terms of roster, library and reach in the bare knuckle space. Beginning in September 2024, and in conjunction with efforts to reconcile multiple belts and title holders after the BYB-BKB merger, the Police Gazette World Diamond Belt will now be the recognized BYB World Championship.
Said BYB CEO Greg Bloom:
“From John L. Sullivan capturing the Police Gazette title in 1882, to his legendary 75-round, battle against Jake Kilrain in 1889, to Dada 5000’s backyard in West Perrine in the early 2000’s in Miami, to BYB’s monumental global expansion through the acquisition of BKB, the history of not just bare knuckle, but of championship prize fighting, is undeniably infused in BYB. Fighters looking to make their name in bare knuckle fighting now only have one place to go to fight for the oldest championship belt in all of combat sports, and it’s for the largest bare knuckle fighting organization on the planet, BYB. The past, present and future of this sport runs through one bare knuckle fighting promotion, and that is BYB Extreme.”
Burt commented on the historical significance of the belt:
“This has been Richard K. Fox's dream, and my dream, for all these years, to have the best fighters in the world fight under one roof, and have the Police Gazette, the umbrella over everything. The Police Gazette Diamond Belt is, by far, the best - the number one award in bare knuckle boxing, there is no second whatsoever. In fact, every single combat sport that you've ever seen where the winner has raised a belt, that belt originates from our Police Gazette Diamond Belt.”
Burt added:
“Upon Fox’s passing and until my succession, the Police Gazette Diamond Belt and all of its history went dormant. The decision to pass the rights to BYB came after six years of quiet research and deliberation to find a home where the legacy of the belt and sport can continue to grow and prosper. BYB’s dedication to the history and continued professionalism of bare knuckle fighting made it by far the most deserving place for future preservation of our sport’s history.”
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 on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. In May 2024, BYB acquired London-based BKB, the world’s first professional bare knuckle boxing promotion, who has successfully promoted forty bare knuckle events which were broadcast in over thirty-five different countries with millions of fans and viewers worldwide. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
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