BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing announced major executive additions on October 4, 2025, bringing in two Golden Boy Promotions veterans to lead the organization’s push toward becoming the undisputed leader in bare knuckle boxing. CEO David Tetreault unveiled the hiring of George Gallegos as Chief Business Officer and Head of Legal and Tony Rodriguez as Creative Director, while promoting Adrian Man from UK Social Media Lead to Director of Social Media.
The hirings coincide with BKB launching a full-scale media and entertainment division under CMO Don Povia, marking a strategic shift toward content creation and brand expansion as the promotion prepares for 2026.
George Gallegos: From Oscar De La Hoya to Bare Knuckle Boxing
Gallegos brings extensive combat sports legal and business experience from his tenure at Golden Boy Promotions, the boxing promotion founded by eight-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya. As in-house counsel for Golden Boy, Gallegos handled high-stakes negotiations and business operations across multiple platforms.
Golden Boy Promotions Background
His responsibilities at Golden Boy included:
Negotiating broadcasting rights agreements with HBO, ESPN, and DAZN
Securing venue deals at T-Mobile Arena, Madison Square Garden, and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Managing sponsorship contracts with major brands including Tecate and Hennessy
Overseeing licensing agreements with Facebook, Getty Photos, Fanatics, and Funko Pop
Handling promotional and bout agreements for Golden Boy’s extensive fighter roster
Beyond standard legal work, Gallegos advised Oscar De La Hoya on personal business affairs related to publicity rights, endorsements, and life rights for documentary and television projects. He negotiated the re-signing of rising star Ryan Garcia to a multiyear contract and developed a hybrid MMA/Boxing show for Bally Sports that incorporated video game features.
Track Record in Fighter Management
Gallegos has history managing fighters outside the traditional legal role. He worked with 7-foot Chinese heavyweight Taishan Dong, helping him secure a five-year contract with Golden Boy Promotions in 2014. Gallegos arranged meetings with Bob Arum at Top Rank and ultimately connected Taishan with Golden Boy, where the giant fighter made his HBO debut in 2015.
His legal background includes certification as a judge and referee from Herb Dean’s MMA Referee and Judge School, giving him ringside perspective on fighter safety and officiating standards.
Tony Rodriguez: Creative Vision from Streaming Giants
Rodriguez joins BKB as Creative Director with a portfolio spanning Netflix, HBO, Triller, Snapchat, and Ubisoft. His experience centers on boutique projects emphasizing emerging technology and visual design.
Golden Boy Creative Leadership
From 2016 to 2022, Rodriguez served as Golden Boy’s Creative Director, working directly with major distribution partners:
DAZN – Streaming platform broadcast design
Facebook – Social media-first content creation
HBO – Premium boxing presentation standards
ESPN – Broadcast television production values
Rodriguez’s role involved creating the visual identity and promotional materials for Golden Boy’s events across multiple platforms, adapting content strategy as combat sports shifted from traditional cable to streaming and social media distribution.
Adrian Man: UK Social Success Goes Global
Adrian Man’s promotion to Director of Social Media recognizes his success building BKB’s UK presence since the May 2024 acquisition of London-based BKB, the world’s first professional bare knuckle boxing promotion. Man has worked with BKB in various capacities, most recently overseeing UK-oriented content and messaging.
His background includes journalism and production work, including positions with Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports and Eurosport as a Social Media Producer. He’ll now oversee global content management, expanding BKB’s social media strategy beyond the UK market to the organization’s worldwide presence.
Full-Scale Media Division: Premium Content Strategy
The executive hirings support BKB’s launch of a comprehensive media and entertainment division under CMO Don Povia. The division will produce multiple content formats designed to showcase fighters beyond the Trigon ring.
Content Programming Announced
Premium fight documentaries profiling BKB champions and contenders
Behind-the-scenes reality series following fighters through training camps
Social First strategy creating platform-specific content for maximum engagement
Original personality programming highlighting fighters’ stories outside competition
The content will be distributed through BKB’s broadcast and streaming partners: VICE (English-language US programming), Telemundo Deportes Ahora (Spanish-language US programming), and talkSPORT (UK and Ireland).
Tetreault’s Vision for Content Dominance
CEO David Tetreault emphasized the content strategy’s role in establishing BKB as the bare knuckle boxing leader. “Our primary goal is to become the undisputed leader in bare knuckle boxing. There isn’t a company out there that can compete with our in-ring product and our executive leadership experience, and as we move into 2026, we will solidify that in the eyes of combat sports fans through strategic growth, brand expansion, partnerships, and unmatched content creation.”
Tetreault pointed to BKB’s infrastructure advantages. “We have spent a decade laying the foundation to become a transformative force in the game. We have the largest roster, the largest library of fights and the largest distribution network in the industry. Starting now, we put our foot on the gas, and the additions of George and Tony, and the expanded role of Adrian, will help drive that.”
BKB’s Competitive Advantages
The promotional push comes as BKB positions itself against rival BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship). While BKFC announced fighter equity programs and a $25 million tournament in July 2025, BKB emphasizes different competitive strengths.
The Trigon: Patented Fighting Surface
BKB fights occur in the Mighty Trigon, a patented triangular ring that serves as the organization’s signature feature. Developed by parent company Lights Out Productions and patented in December 2017, the Trigon eliminates 90-degree corners found in traditional boxing rings.
The design creates the smallest fighting surface in combat sports, forcing fighters to engage directly rather than circling or retreating. BKB claims a 90% knockout or finish rate in Trigon bouts, substantially higher than square rings or circular cages used by competitors.
In 2021, Triller announced plans to use a triangular ring for Triad Combat. BKB filed a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, defending its exclusive use of the patented design.
Roster and Library Size
BKB’s May 2024 acquisition of UK-based BKB doubled the organization’s fighter roster and event library. The merger combined the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle promotion (UK BKB, founded 2015) with the US-based BYB Extreme (also founded 2015), creating what Tetreault calls “the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution.”
The combined roster exceeds 250 fighters across six continents. The event library includes over 40 UK BKB shows broadcast in 35-plus countries, plus all BYB events dating to 2015.
Police Gazette Diamond Belt
BKB acquired rights to the historic Police Gazette Diamond Belt, which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship. The Police Gazette belt dates to the 19th century and represents the sport’s traditional championship lineage, giving BKB claim to bare knuckle boxing’s historical legitimacy.
Broadcast Distribution Network
BKB secured broadcast deals on both sides of the Atlantic:
VICE TV (US) – March 2025 multi-year agreement, first live programming for VICE Sports
Telemundo Deportes Ahora (US) – August 2025 announcement, Spanish-language coverage
talkSPORT (UK/Ireland) – Continuing partnership from pre-merger UK BKB operations
The VICE deal particularly positions BKB for mainstream growth, as VICE TV emphasizes sports-themed docuseries, programs, live events, and podcasts in its content strategy.
Tetreault’s Background: Media Industry Veteran
David Tetreault was named BKB President (and President of parent company Lights Out Productions) in May 2025, bringing 30-plus years of media, sports, and entertainment experience. His previous roles span major companies including Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, FOX, Clear TV, Golden Boy Promotions, and Triller.
Career Highlights
FOX Senior Vice President of Marketing – Oversaw campaigns for The Simpsons, American Idol, 24, and The X-Files
Golden Boy Promotions Chief Business Officer – Negotiated broadcasting deals with Facebook Watch, ESPN, and HBO
Triller Fight Club President – Led global television rights deals and sponsorship strategies
BKFC Chief Business Officer – Oversaw content development and marketing (ironic given current BKB position as BKFC competitor)
Tetreault also serves as adjunct professor at University of San Francisco and California State University Los Angeles, teaching Strategic Management, Sports Business, and Entertainment Marketing at the graduate level.
His Triller Fight Club role included serving as Executive Producer for the Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo exhibition match in Seoul, South Korea in December 2022.
October Fremantle Partnership Discussions
On October 9, 2025, BKB announced via social media that Tetreault and Gallegos met with Fremantle in Los Angeles for “productive talks.” Fremantle is described as “the world leader in creating, producing and distributing content.”
The announcement positioned the meeting within BKB’s media division launch, specifically mentioning “packaging original personality and behind-the-scenes programming, documentaries, reality series and live events.”
Fremantle’s involvement suggests BKB aims for professional-grade production values and potentially international distribution beyond current VICE, Telemundo, and talkSPORT deals.
Competitive Landscape: BKFC vs. BKB
The October announcements intensify the competition between the two major bare knuckle promotions. While BKFC grabbed headlines with Conor McGregor’s ownership stake, fighter equity program, and $25 million tournament, BKB focuses on content creation and distribution network expansion.
BKFC Strengths
Conor McGregor co-ownership and celebrity investors (Maxx Crosby)
Three-year DAZN broadcast deal beginning October 2024
142 events held as of November 2025
Sanctioning in 32 US state athletic commissions
$25 million World’s Baddest Man tournament launching March 2026
Fighter equity program offering up to $3 million in ownership stakes
Lethwei expansion in Asia
BKB Differentiators
Patented Trigon ring creating unique fighting surface and 90% finish rate
Largest combined roster and fight library via UK BKB acquisition
Historic Police Gazette Diamond Belt championship lineage
VICE TV partnership positioning for mainstream sports entertainment audience
Telemundo deal capturing Spanish-language market
Trigon Combat amateur series creating fighter development pipeline
Focus on documentary and reality content, not just live events
What BKB’s Strategy Means for Fans and Bettors
The media division launch and executive hirings signal BKB’s approach differs from BKFC’s tournament and fighter equity model. Rather than one-time spectacle events, BKB invests in ongoing content creating year-round engagement.
For fans, this means more access to fighter personalities, training footage, and storyline development beyond fight night. The reality series and documentaries should provide context for matchmaking and title implications, similar to how UFC’s Embedded series and boxing’s 24/7 programming build anticipation.
For bettors, increased content provides better information for handicapping. Behind-the-scenes training footage, fighter interviews, and documentary-style coverage reveal preparation quality, mental state, and physical condition leading into fights. Understanding fighter narratives and motivations improves betting decision quality beyond simple record analysis.
The Trigon’s 90% finish rate also creates distinct betting opportunities compared to BKFC’s circular Squared Circle or traditional boxing. Knockout props and round betting carry different probability distributions when fighters can’t retreat to corners or circle away from pressure.
BKB 47: Testing the Media Strategy
BKB’s next event after the announcements was BKB 47 on October 18, 2025, at Planet Ice Arena in Leeds, England. The card featured former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBA Welterweight Champion Paulie Malignaggi facing bare knuckle veteran Tyler Goodjohn.
The Malignaggi fight represented BKB’s strategy of signing recognizable boxing names for crossover appeal. Malignaggi also serves as expert analyst ringside for BKB broadcasts, providing both star power and credibility from his two-division championship boxing career.
The event tested BKB’s UK broadcast infrastructure through talkSPORT while simultaneously reaching US audiences via VICE and Telemundo Deportes Ahora.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Battle for Bare Knuckle Supremacy
Both major bare knuckle promotions enter 2026 with ambitious plans and significant resources. BKFC’s tournament and fighter equity programs directly address athlete compensation and create headline-grabbing spectacle. BKB’s content strategy and distribution deals aim for sustainable audience growth and mainstream sports entertainment positioning.
The competition benefits the sport overall. As both promotions invest in production quality, talent acquisition, and geographic expansion, bare knuckle boxing gains legitimacy and audience reach.
For BKB specifically, the Gallegos and Rodriguez hirings bring proven combat sports expertise from Golden Boy’s successful boxing promotion model. Their experience navigating broadcasting deals, content creation, and fighter management across traditional and streaming platforms directly addresses BKB’s stated goal of becoming “the undisputed leader in bare knuckle boxing.”
Whether BKB’s content-first approach or BKFC’s tournament-and-equity model proves more successful will unfold throughout 2026. Both strategies have merit, and fight fans benefit from the increased investment, production quality, and competitive pressure driving both organizations forward.
Sources: BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, Sherdog, PWInsider, Wikipedia, Bleacher Report, VICE, Grokipedia, FightBook MMA
