BKFC set to hold event at Fenway Park in Boston

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is taking its sport to a historic venue, announcing an event at Boston's Fenway Park on August 29. The card will mark the first-ever bare-knuckle combat sports event held in Massachusetts and the first of its kind at the home of baseball's Red Sox.

The main event will feature BKFC featherweight champion Kai Stewart defending his title against Harry Gigliotti, a Boston native who has been in strong form over the past three years. BKFC president Dave Feldman called the matchup a landmark moment for bare-knuckle fighting, noting that Stewart—ranked among the world's top bare-knuckle competitors—faces perhaps his toughest challenge yet in Gigliotti on such a prominent stage.

BKFC has grown its footprint by embracing unconventional venues. The promotion has previously held outdoor events at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota and at a bullfighting arena in Spain. More bouts from the Fenway Park card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The decision to host a major combat sports event outdoors at an iconic baseball stadium contrasts sharply with UFC policy. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly stated his preference to avoid outdoor events, even after the successful card held at the White House. BKFC's expansion into major sports venues and outdoor settings highlights a different strategic approach to growth within combat sports.