Canadian fighter Jesse Ronson is preparing to headline BKB 52: No Turning Back on March 28th, where he will vie for Cub Hawkins’ BKB Championship. This bout represents a monumental opportunity for Ronson to not only secure a championship but also to etch his name into the history books of combat sports.
Ronson reports being in the best physical and mental condition of his career, describing his current training camp as exceptionally smooth and effective. “This is probably the sharpest I’ve felt in a training camp ever,” Ronson stated. He emphasized improvements across the board: “Everything’s just on. Speed is better than ever. Power is better than ever. My reactions, timing, and distance are ridiculous. It’s like you turn 40 and you hit your prime all over again.”
Despite the inherent pressure of his first world title fight against a formidable opponent like Cub Hawkins—a recognized legend, multi-division champion with a 9-1 record, and recent victor over Barrie Jones—Ronson feels supremely confident and focused. His ultimate driving force is the ambition to become the first Canadian ever to win a bare-knuckle title, an achievement he finds incredibly motivating. He particularly covets the Police Gazette belt, stating his profound desire to possess it. Ronson attributes his peak performance to smart training and prioritizing proper rest days, practices he acknowledges he should have adopted earlier in his career.
The prospect of becoming Canada’s inaugural bare-knuckle boxing champion deeply fuels Ronson’s motivation. “It’s just so incredibly motivating,” he explained, noting his inability to find any verifiable record of a Canadian bare-knuckle champion in his lifetime. “I can’t even describe the feeling… it’s huge, especially for me.” While some might question why his focus isn’t solely on an MMA world title, Ronson asserts that being a world champion in any discipline signifies being the global best at something. Achieving this as the first Canadian in bare-knuckle boxing holds a unique, historical significance for him.
Ronson expresses unwavering confidence in his ability to win the upcoming fight. “I feel like I can’t lose because I’m the first guy,” he declared, convinced that his two decades of career experience will ensure success where others might have faltered. He also openly challenged other prominent bare-knuckle fighters such as Mike Perry and Dave Mundell, inviting them to compete for a sufficient financial incentive, hinting at potential future co-promotions.
Ronson’s Ambitious Plans: BKB and Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA Titles
Jesse Ronson’s initial foray into bare-knuckle boxing was met with considerable anticipation, but his dominant performance against the seasoned circuit fighter Ryan Jett truly amplified perceptions of his potential. Despite an initial inclination from the matchmaker for Ronson to take additional fights before a title shot, the overwhelming public response to his impressive debut quickly paved the way for this championship opportunity. “Blowing through that guy, they’re like, we’ve never had a Canadian do that, let alone look that good,” Ronson recounted, underscoring the immediate impact of his victory.
Beyond the BKB championship, Ronson harbors extensive plans. He aims to defeat Cub Hawkins, then proceed to claim the Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA welterweight title, aspiring to be the first-ever bare-knuckle welterweight MMA champion worldwide, let alone Canadian. He also expressed interest in a future bout against Barrie Jones. For Ronson, these world titles are not merely accolades; they represent a crucial step towards validating his long career and finally achieving significant financial success, balancing the immense demands combat sports has placed on him over the years.
