Jarod Grant has held gold in the biggest bare-knuckle boxing promotions in the world but there is another strap in the crosshairs. But first, ‘Kid Gatti’ must author a victory over Luis Guerrero at BKB: Bally’s Fight Night in the October 23rd headline attraction. The former interim BKFC as well as former interim BKB champion spoke on these subjects at BKB 58 in Miami on August 29th.
Quasi intertwined in this whole journey is Grant’s former opponent John Dodson, who fights tonight in a bid to become a two division BKFC champion against bantamweight titleholder Jamel Herring. Touching upon how the BKFC flyweight champion is still on his mind following his stoppage loss to the ex-UFC vet at BKFC KnuckleMania III, Jarod Grant said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“I really feel like this could clean up my face from my former loss with John Dodson.”
When asked if he feels like a redemptive run back with BKB lightweight champion Jon Barnard could potentially be next with a strong win here over ‘Pantera’ next week, Jarod Grant stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, I mean it would only be fair. I gave him a rematch. I gave him a rematch our first fight. Obviously ended in a no contest, but I feel like I obviously was the one that came out clean that fight. But I think it’s only fair like if he’s going to continue fighting, I would think down the line, he would give me a rematch. I definitely would look forward to that.”
With BKB super featherweight champion Alberto Blas discussing moving up and joining the former interim lightweight titleholder in the weight category he plies his pugilistic trade in, Jarod Grant quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“If I haven’t proven it already, I take any fight. Just show me the money and I’m fighting them.”
Reflecting back on the earlier Dodson reference and when asked about the lengthy period of time with which BKFC had been shelving Dodson prior to the relatively recent Herring booking, Jarod Grant said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“I think it’s f***ed up. You got a former UFC star that came into Bare Knuckle, won the title, and you guys are not even keeping him active. I mean, it’s just bulls**t. I feel pity for him as far as him not getting the activity he should get but it is what it is.”
Having fought for both promotions, when asked about some of the rhetoric out there about fighting more sporadically while in BKFC whereas you have a stronger strength of schedule as a BKB contracted talent, Grant stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, if you guys could see since the start of my career I’ve been active in my career. I’ve been back and forth. They keep me active. I’ve been fighting non-stop. So that’s something I like too.”
BKB praised heavily by Jarod grant as ‘kid gatti’ eyes his 3rd bare knuckle belt
When asked if he was still honing the skills at Team Slaughterhouse these days, Grant quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah. I train at Carter Park, Contenders Boxing Gym. So I strictly train boxing only. So that’s just what it is.”
When questioned about some prior comments Alberto Blas made about being able to leapfrog over Jarod Grant and get to BKB lightweight champ Jon Barnard first, Grant said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“No, I mean whatever Mel [Valenzuela] wants to do. I’m moving forward with my career, man. Like I already won the title at 135. I could care less who else gets it. I’m going for a new title now. I want to become a three-time world champion.”
With the rich, near-150 year lineage of the Police Gazette diamond belt, when asked how important it is to be interwoven in that kind of an iconic title history, Grant stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, I mean, listen, I hold all my accomplishments near and dear to me, especially when I came from nothing. I wasn’t supposed to make it this far. Honestly, these accomplishments to me mean a lot.”
This situation seemed to resonate as beyond anything his younger self could have ever envisioned in their wildest dreams and to that descriptive framework, Grant quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“No. If you would have told me when I was 17 years old that I would be here and I would be a two-time world champion, fighting on TV, doing all these amazing things. No, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Offering up his final parting thoughts on this latest BKB appearance from ‘Kid Gatti’, Grant said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“No, Bare Knuckle is amazing. It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the world. BKB is absolutely the best promotion in the world. I love being here and performing for you guys.”
