Bare Knuckle Boxing Pursues Global Broadcast Deal Following TikTok Surge
Bare Knuckle Boxing is leveraging record-breaking TikTok viewership and a franchise-style roster strategy to secure a major global broadcast agreement as its current television deal expires.
Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) is actively negotiating a new global broadcasting agreement as its current contract with VICE TV expires later this year. Chief Executive David Tetreault is capitalizing on surging digital engagement to position the promotion for mainstream media distribution.
The company’s digital strategy has already yielded measurable audience traction. During a June 27 event in Cardiff headlined by Lee Selby, the promotion recorded the highest watch time of any sports platform ever in the history of TikTok live sports.
The promotion’s TikTok channel has accumulated over 53 million likes since mid-April. Tetreault views this partnership as a primary distribution channel rather than a secondary highlight repository, comparing its strategic value to major rights holders like Fox and ESPN.
This digital momentum supports BKB’s broader operational model, which diverges from traditional boxing promoters. Tetreault explicitly avoids comparing the company to rivals like Matchroom or Top Rank, instead modeling the business after established sports franchises such as Manchester United or the Boston Celtics.
The strategy relies on signing pedigreed boxers and former mixed martial arts champions to drive narrative-driven content. An in-house media division and a prospect series backed by Bally’s are currently in development to further monetize these athlete stories.
Investors will note Tetreault’s track record in scaling sports entertainment properties. Before joining BKB early last year, he spent seven years as chief business officer at Golden Boy. There, he helped structure what he described as the largest ever boxing promotional deal in history, making Canelo the world's highest paid athlete.
The company is also executing a targeted international expansion to diversify its revenue base. A world title event is scheduled for September 19 in Mexico through a partnership with Zanfer, complementing existing operations in the United States and United Kingdom.
Achieving mainstream Saturday night viewership and consistent arena sell-outs remains the primary financial objective. However, Tetreault acknowledges that securing the right fighters on stage is the fundamental prerequisite for making that growth happen.
