Terence Crawford’s hardest-hitting opponent inks multi-year bare-knuckle boxing deal

Olympic gold medalist and former featherweight world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa has joined BKB.

The Miami-based bare-knuckle boxing promotion has snapped up Gamboa, 44, on a multi-year deal in a massive coup for the fastest-rising combat sport.

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Gamboa will make his debut live on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel this year, with an announcement pending.

The Cuban technician has shared the ring with future Hall of Famers Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Terence Crawford during a 30-5 professional career.

And while he was knocked out in the ninth-round by the latter, he was paid the ultimate compliment in defeat.

“Gamboa caught me with the hardest punch,” Crawford told Ring Champs with Ak & Barak. “He was fast.”

Gamboa got the bit back between his teeth after attending BKB 50 over the weekend in Miami and has set his sights on becoming a two-sport world champion after previously claiming the IBF featherweight strap and lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt.

Gamboa said: “Bare knuckle boxing is the oldest form of boxing.

“After winning an Olympic gold medal and world championships in boxing, now I’m focused and excited to become BKB Bare Knuckle World Champion.

“I’m going to showcase my skills and show why I belong at the very top of this sport.”

Mike Vazquez, Co-founder of BKB, added: “It’s an honour to welcome Yurorkis to Bare Knuckle, and I can’t wait to see his skills and pedigree on display in the Trigon.

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“We’ve got some incredible Cuban fighters on our roster, including our heavyweight world champion.

“This year we’re going to see more and more elite fighters join our global roster of over 200 fighters from over 30 countries.”

David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle, remarked: “Yuriorkis Gamboa is a game-changer for BKB.

“His Olympic pedigree, world titles, and battles against the best in boxing make this our most significant signing yet.

“We’re thrilled to welcome him as he chases bare-knuckle immortality.”

Gamboa becomes the latest big-name boxer to ditch the gloves and join BKB after Paulie Malignaggi and Lucas Browne.

Malignaggi challenges Rolando Dy for the BKB super welterweight title on May 16 in Manchester.

Browne was recently knocked out by Gustavo Trujillo in a heavyweight title fight.