Proudly and respectfully announced Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Scott R. Burt, president of the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame; Belfast, New York.
BOBBY GUNN; USA, Hackensack, New Jersey (71-0, 71 KOs)
Holder of National Police Gazette-Authorized WORLD Championship Belt
Lineal holder of the National Police Gazette’s Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship Belt first awarded to Jake Kilrain in 1887 before being famously won from him in 1889 by The Great John L. Sullivan. Gunn is the third man in history to own it. It is now under complete control and authority of BKBHOF President Scott R. Burt, the only man in the World authorized to name BKB World Champions and issue belts representing such.
Top 10 Ranked WORLD Heavyweight Contenders:
1. Danny Batchelder; USA, Glens Falls, New York (44-0, 44 KOs)
2. Kevin Ferguson AKA Kimbo Slice; Bahamas, Nassau (31-1, 31 KOs)
3. Shannon Ritch; USA, Coolidge, Arizona (25-2, 25 KOs)
4. Dhafir Harris AKA Dada 5000; USA, Miami, Florida (47-0, 47 KOs)
5. Sharif Kemp; USA, Atlanta, Georgia (36-0, 36 KOs)
6. Dan Biddle; USA, Hockessin, Delaware (19-0, 19 KOs)
7. Anthony Caputo; USA, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (17-0, 17 KOs)
8. Jamie Hearn; UK, Colnbrook, Berkshire (30-0, 30 KOs)
9. David Whittom; Canada, Quebec City, Quebec (10-0, 10 KOs)
10. Michael Ferry; UK, Newcastle upon Tyne (5-0, 4 KOs)
DANNY BATCHELDER; Glens Falls, New York (44-0, 44 KOs)
Holder of National Police Gazette-Authorized AMERICAN Championship belt
Lineal holder of the National Police Gazette’s Bare Knuckle Boxing American Championship title, last held by The Great John L. Sullivan; he won it by defeating Paddy Ryan in 1882 and was given it by the Gazette. Batchelder is the second man in history to own it. This title is now under the complete control and authority of BKBHOF President Scott R. Burt, the only man in the World authorized to name Champions and issue belts representing such.
Top 10 Ranked AMERICAN Heavyweight Contenders:
1. Shannon Ritch; Coolidge, Arizona (25-2, 25 KOs)
2. Dhafir Harris AKA Dada 5000; Miami, Florida (47-0, 47 KOs)
3. Sharif Kemp; Atlanta, Georgia (36-0, 36 KOs)
4. Dan Biddle; Hockessin, Delaware (19-0, 19 KOs)
5. Anthony Caputo; Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (17-0, 17 KOs)
6. Mark Brown; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (14-2, 14 KOs)
7. Nelson Lopez Jr.; Pahokee, Florida (11-2, 11 KOs)
8. Mike Liberto; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (8-1, 8 KOs)
9. Ricardo Marquez; Phoenix, Arizona (12-3, 12 KOs)
10. Ruben Albino; Ocean City, Maryland (13-4, 13 KOs)
Lists were derived from extensive research based on witness accounts, quality of opponents, individual fight styles, submitted records, and potential for upward movement.
Scott Burt has been endorsed by the late great historian and publisher of The Ring magazine Bert Randolph Sugar. In February of 2016 Scott was also authorized by the iconic National Police Gazette to be the sole acknowledger of World Bare Knuckle Boxing Champions and sole issuer of belts to represent such. Steven Westlake, the current publisher of the National Police Gazette, stated “The task, honor, and responsibility now belongs solely to Scott Burt, President of the BKB Hall of Fame in Belfast, New York. His unselfish dedication to preserving the sport’s amazing history with class and dignity is impressive.”
From 1880 to 1920, the National Police Gazette was the most important boxing journal in the world. The magazine also sanctioned bouts and issued championship belts before there were official boxing associations. The Gazette through its publisher Richard K. Fox sanctioned the last bare-knuckle boxing championships ever to take place until Bobby Gunn won an approved match vs Richard Stewart in 2011 and then was presented with the current world bare-knuckle-boxing championship belt in 2014 by President Burt of the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. In February 2016, the Police Gazette, through its current publisher Steven Westlake, formally recognized Scott Burt and the Hall of Fame as having the sole authority to issue new bare knuckle championship belts.