The GOAT of BKB 

Call him what you want Multiple-time world champ.The man who beat the unbeatable Jimmy Sweeney twice.The cleanest striker in bare-knuckle boxing. But around here in the UK, we just call him what he is… the GOAT

Barrie didn’t walk into this sport as a social media name.

He earned every second of his spot at the top the hard way—through war after war in the Trigon. From his professional gloved background to the raw world of BKB, he’s always brought one thing:

Violence, skill, and composure all in one.

He’s one of the rare few who fights how a teacher would fight a student—calm, controlled, then boom—KO. It’s what makes him special. It’s what makes him dangerous. And it’s why he’s the most respected name in the sport.

But there’s still a chapter left in the story.

One Name Left

In a run full of scalps and stoppages, only one man has ever got the better of Barrie Jones under BKB rules and that’s LT “Smash” Nelson.

Now let’s be clear: Nelson is no joke. He’s one of the toughest, most rugged fighters we’ve seen in the modern scene. Built like a wrecking ball and backed by a gas tank that doesn’t quit.

And when he fought Barrie, he pulled off what most thought was impossible—he won.

That fight was a war. brutal. But it left something unfinished. You could see it in Barrie’s face at the end. Calm. No complaints. But you could feel the gears turning.

And now? He wants that one back.

“I Owe Myself That One.”

In a quiet moment recently, Barrie said:

“I don’t need another belt. I’ve got legacy already. But there’s something in me that won’t rest until I get that Nelson fight again. I respect him—but I owe it to myself.”

And that’s the thing about true greatness—it doesn’t run from the past. It chases it down.

He doesn’t need this fight.

But the sport needs it.

If the rematch happens, don’t expect the same Barrie Jones that stepped in the first time.

That version was dangerous.

This version? Deadly.

Since the Nelson fight, he’s improved his timing, his composure under pressure, and his shot selection. He’s walking opponents down like he’s reading their minds. There’s no panic in his movements anymore—just surgical destruction.

Nelson’s game is pressure and grit. Barrie’s is patience and precision. The next meeting would be different—and we believe it ends differently too.

One Last Dance?

Barrie hasn’t said how many fights he’s got left. But if you ask around, those closest to him know he’s thinking legacy over longevity.

And what better way to close the book than with the only unanswered question?

He’s cleaned out the divisions.

He’s humbled legends.

He’s made the sport his.

Now give him the only thing he hasn’t got—redemption.

FINAL WORD:

We’ll say what others won’t:

Barrie Jones is the greatest bare-knuckle boxer of the modern era.

He’s the blueprint. The gold standard. The man every fighter watches on tape before they even sign a contract.

And even GOATs deserve closure.

So let’s have it.

Barrie Jones vs LT Nelson 2.

Run it back. For the fans. the fighters and the history books.

Because when it’s all said and done, the real ones will remember who chased the smoke.

And who finished what they started.

Written by Josh Clare – BkN UK