Harry Gigliotti's High-Stakes BKFC Debut: Vacated BKB Title and Kai Stewart Challenge

Harry Gigliotti is set to make an anticipated transition from BKB (Bare Knuckle Boxing) to BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), with his debut scheduled for March 28th at BKFC Fight Night: Mohegan Sun. The former BKB champion recently vacated his belt to pursue this new chapter, signing a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

On Vacating the BKB Title and BKFC Debut

Gigliotti expressed mixed feelings about leaving his BKB Police Gazette title behind, calling it a "sad" necessity but emphasizing that the move to BKFC represents a positive step for his career. He sees his upcoming opponent, Timmy Mason, as a formidable challenge for his debut.

“I had to vacate the title sadly and part ways with BKB, but we got a lot of new things coming up. I think this new debut with BKFC is going to be a good thing for my future. I think Timmy Mason’s got a lot to handle on March 28th.”

The 30-year-old fighter spoke positively about BKB but clarified that his decision was "just business," as he embarks on his new multi-fight contract with BKFC.

Eyes on the Prize: Kai Stewart Call-Out

Even before his first BKFC bout, Gigliotti has already set his sights on the reigning BKFC 145-pound champion, Kai Stewart. He expressed excitement for his debut and confidence in his future, hoping for a title shot by summer, provided his initial performance is strong.

“I’m just really excited. I think Kai Stewart has a lot to handle, too… Hopefully by summertime, I’ll get my title shot. Depending on obviously how this turns out. But like I said, Timmy Mason’s got a lot on his hands on March 28th and I’m just looking forward to marketing. Selling this fight and bigger things ahead.”

Opponent Comparison and Strategic Shift

Gigliotti's move to BKFC is particularly noteworthy as he was originally slated to defend his BKB title against Estevan Partida on the same day, March 28th. This shift necessitated a change in his training regimen, adapting from preparing for an Orthodox fighter (Partida) to a Southpaw (Mason).

Gigliotti views Timmy Mason as a tougher, more experienced opponent compared to Partida, who he considers to be in an earlier stage of development. He respects Mason's "boxing IQ and boxing background," noting his impressive performance, including dropping Jimmie Rivera in a previous fight. Addressing potential criticisms of avoiding Partida, Gigliotti clarified that his decision was driven by "marketing and business reasons," not fear. He remains open to fighting Partida in BKFC if the opportunity arises, but his current focus is on building his brand and career within BKFC, with an ambition to meet figures like Conor McGregor.

“Timmy Mason I believe is a tougher opponent than Estevan [Partida]. I think Estevan was just in his developing stage. Timmy’s been around the block and he’s got that boxing IQ and boxing background. He did pretty decent. He dropped Jimmie Rivera from what I [had] seen in his last fight. So I mean he took that fight on last minute notice too. So I’m not taking this kid lightly. I know he’s going to be the real deal. But I think this is like I said the right fight in the stepping stones side of fighting. Trying to build my name and trying to market myself and promote myself.”

“I pulled out because of marketing and business reasons, realistically… if he came over to BKFC, it would be no different. I’d still fight Estevan.”

“My eyes are on the prize, man, and trying to meet Conor McGregor. Trying to promote myself, trying to build my platform, my content, and I think I got the right fight for me. So I got to do what’s right for my career on a business aspect.”

He also highlighted the transition from BKB's Trigon ring to BKFC's circular space, believing the latter will offer more room to showcase his boxing acumen.

Bare-Knuckle Pedigree and Confidence

Harry Gigliotti's transition to BKFC appears to be a smooth one, positioning him against an experienced opponent in Timmy Mason. Mason is familiar with the BKFC circuit, having faced fighters like Jimmie Rivera and Brandon Allen.

While acknowledging the toughness of fighters like Brandon Allen and the heavy-handed nature of Mason, Gigliotti believes his unique caliber will present a new challenge for Mason. He recognizes the unpredictable nature of bare-knuckle fighting, where "it takes one shot to change the whole dynamic of the fight," but is confident in his ability to weather any storm and showcase his skills to the BKFC audience, effectively "reiterating" his proven bare-knuckle pedigree.

“He comes in heavy with the left hands. I will say I don’t think he’s fought anybody at my caliber yet, you know what I mean, when it comes to like picking and choosing and plotting. But, it’s fighting, man. It takes one shot to change the whole dynamic of the fight. So, I plan on weathering whatever storm he brings. I plan on giving the crowd everything that I showed in the past and just reiterating it here now at BKFC.”