Javon Wright, the reigning BKB Police Gazette welterweight champion, is set to defend his title against Dan Gittens at BKB 54 on May 16th. This bout, originally scheduled for January, carries significant animosity between the fighters, as tensions have escalated throughout the year. Wright expressed his anticipation for the rescheduled fight, stating his opponent has been “running his mouth a lot since January” and that he hopes Gittens will “back up all that little stuff he was talking.”
Addressing the palpable bad blood, Wright declared, “Oh, yeah. I’mma smack the s**t out of him for real.” He elaborated on Gittens’ prolonged complaints about the title fight since August, following Wright’s unexpected withdrawal due to injury. “He been crying like a little girl since since August for real… He been crying to the promoters and everybody who had listened to him since then. So since he want to run his mouth, I’mma make sure he backs up everything he was saying come Saturday.” Wright confirmed that Gittens likely doubted the legitimacy of his injury, but stressed that his own team’s knowledge of his condition was paramount.
Beyond the fight, Wright finds his greatest motivation in being a father. He believes that winning a world title is meaningless if it cannot be shared with his daughters. He shared a heartwarming anecdote about his daughters’ involvement and their encouragement: “Whenever they’re with me, they’re usually at the gym with me, watching me, or trying to do what I’m doing, working out, hitting the bag, and everything… She’s like, ‘Well, daddy, you better not lose.'” Wright acknowledged that his daughters would “definitely let him hear it” if he were to lose, adding further impetus to his drive to win.
Wright also expressed pride in his role within the growing landscape of BKB Bare Knuckle. He highlighted the organization’s expansion into England, the signing of prominent fighters, and the launch of the Ricky Hatton Foundation, all contributing to BKB’s increasing global reach. He feels “very proud to be a part of something as big as what BKB [are] doing” and is “grateful to be a part of everything that they’ve got going on right now.”
The significance of the Police Gazette belt, with over a century of lineage, is not lost on Wright. He views holding this title as a testament to his legacy and a “blessing.”
In discussing his unique approach to fighting within the confines of the BKB Trigon, Wright revealed an unconventional training method: shadow boxing in saunas. He explained that navigating and pivoting within small, enclosed spaces like saunas or closets prepares him for the Trigon’s limited dimensions. This method also enhances his conditioning and ability to regulate his breathing and temperature under pressure, simulating the “tense situation” of a late-round fight.
He cited his second fight against Kylle McMillan as an instance where this training paid off, allowing him to “stay on the bike and keep moving” when fatigued. Wright emphasized the importance of pushing past one’s limits in combat, stating, “it’s either suck it up and go past your limits or fall off and lose the fight.”
Wright also spoke about the evolution of fight IQ in bare-knuckle boxing and how his background in MMA, boxing, and kickboxing has provided him with a strong skill set, particularly his clinch work, which he considers a significant weapon. He is currently training at Hill Street Boxing Gym, benefiting from the guidance of former BKB titleholder Julio Tanori, whom he describes as someone who “be beating me up sometimes.”
Looking ahead to the BKB 54 main event, Wright is confident in his ability to secure a victory. He stated, “I can’t see how it’s going to feel, but I can tell you this. Like, I’ve been literally training as hard as I can for this fight. Be honest, since I’ve started BKB, this is probably the hardest I’ve trained for a fight in a while. Only off because dude was running his mouth a lot.” He reiterated his commitment to backing up his actions in the ring, anticipating a win and his hand being raised.
Wright also indicated a willingness to engage in trash talk, influenced by his daughters’ playful taunts. He expressed his eagerness to verbally confront Gittens in the lead-up to the fight. He further stated that Gittens, who had suggested fighting outside the ring, would fare even worse without the protection of referees, predicting, “he is gonna get his ass destroyed.”
In his final remarks, Javon Wright confidently declared, “Dan Gittens is a hoe, and I can’t wait to see him Saturday.”
