Victor Ortiz Switches to Bare Knuckle

"Vicious" Victor Ortiz, now 39, enters the bare-knuckle scene after a professional boxing career that spanned nearly two decades. His last sanctioned boxing match was a unanimous decision loss to Robert Guerrero in August 2021. Prior to that, his most recent victory came in May 2022 against Todd Manuel. Ortiz's career pinnacle occurred in 2011 when he defeated Andre Berto to capture the WBC welterweight title in a bout named The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year." This victory set up a high-profile and lucrative match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later that year. The Mayweather fight remains one of the most talked-about moments of Ortiz's career, ending in a controversial fourth-round knockout. After being penalized for an intentional headbutt, Ortiz was knocked out by Mayweather as he appeared to be apologizing. Despite the fight generating over $78 million in revenue, Ortiz has stated he earned $3 million for the bout. Ortiz's professional record stands at 33 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws, with 25 of his victories coming by knockout. His career was marked by thrilling fights and notable power, but also five stoppage losses. He joins a growing list of former gloved boxing champions making the switch to BKB. The promotion has also signed former world champions Yuriorkis Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, and Lee Selby. The sport of bare-knuckle boxing, which originated in 17th-century England, has seen a modern resurgence with promotions like BKB. Fights in BKB are contested in a triangular ring called the "Trigon," and while punches are the only strikes allowed, rules permit punching in the clinch, a significant departure from traditional boxing. Other notable boxers who have transitioned to bare-knuckle fighting have had mixed results. Paulie Malignaggi, a former two-division world champion, lost a unanimous decision to Artem Lobov in his debut. He has since returned to BKB and is scheduled to fight for the super welterweight championship in May 2026.