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Ben Bonner KO's Trout, Claims BKFC Lightweight Title in Philly

7/4/2026

45 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bonner Wins BKFC Title

Ben Bonner knocked out Austin Trout with a right hand in round two, winning the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) lightweight title on July 3, 2026 in Philadelphia.
Trout entered unbeaten after five BKFC wins since his 2023 debut, having held the WBA light middleweight championship and fought Jarrett Hurd and the Charlo brothers.
The bout was part of the BKFC Liberty Brawl marking the United States’ 250th Independence Day anniversary.

Summary

Bonner Retires

Austin Trout, 40, may retire after his first bare-knuckle loss and knockout.
Ben Bonner, now 6-2, said he will retire as the sport’s greatest after winning the lightweight crown.
The main event was billed as an American-vs-British clash, with Trout in stars-and-stripes gear and Bonner for England.
Britain Hart kept her straw-weight title by split decision, moving to 11-3 while limiting Sarah Shell to 30.7 % punch accuracy.

History

Historical Context

In July 1889 John L. Sullivan defeated Jake Kilrain in a 75-round, 2-hour-16-minute bare-knuckle championship before 10,000 fans, generating $30,000 in gate receipts and proving the sport’s commercial appeal. After a century-long decline, regulated promotions such as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship revived the format, leading Ben Bonner to knock out Austin Trout in Philadelphia, echoing the historic Anglo-American rivalry.

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Bonner Wins BKFC Title

Ben Bonner knocked out Austin Trout with a right hand in round two, winning the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) lightweight title on July 3, 2026 in Philadelphia.
Trout entered unbeaten after five BKFC wins since his 2023 debut, having held the WBA light middleweight championship and fought Jarrett Hurd and the Charlo brothers.
The bout was part of the BKFC Liberty Brawl marking the United States’ 250th Independence Day anniversary.

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