A Ramsgate fighter has been crowned Vendetta bare-knuckle boxing world champion after just his second appearance.
Father-of-one Macaulay Bygrave said he “accidentally” joined the ranks of bare-knuckle boxers because of “his big mouth” and issued a challenge to “shut up any man who gets in his way”.
The former Hereson lad known as Mack Attack returned to training and the ring a year ago and has already taken the boxing world by storm 'with gloves' after winning the titles of UBC Light Heavyweight Champion and JKH British Champion. It's stirring up.
Then, I received an offer to try out bare-knuckle boxing.
He said: “It all happened by chance. I'm a big mouth guy and I love getting excited for a fight, so I got into it. I'm a real showman.” Jimmy Miller, boxer and bare-knuckle fighter When I beat that one, I got an email asking me to come down (to BKB tryouts), so I had to go through with it. ”
In February, the 29-year-old middleweight fighter hung up his gloves in his bare-knuckle boxing debut for Rock Solid Promotions, earning a knockout victory in just 40 seconds.
The win marked Mack's second bare-knuckle contest, with the Vendetta Fight Nights title fight taking place in Hungary on Saturday (March 30).
His opponent is Adam Mate of Hungary, who has a professional record of 31 wins and 17 losses.
Mack said, “It was literally my second bare-knuckle boxing match. I was the underdog and I thought they were feeding me a lamb to the slaughter.
“The guy I fought had 50 professional boxing fights and had two world titles and one Commonwealth title. And so I did.
“When I beat a Hungarian fighter in Hungary, I caused havoc. We were supposed to do five three-minute rounds, but I knocked him out in the fourth round and he was down and couldn't get up.”
This heated battle earned Mack the world title for Ramsgate, his boxing club (CG Boxing in Broadstairs) and sponsors including All Star Cargo and RNB Electrical Mechanical & Renewables.
Mack, who works as an electrician, has been boxing since the age of 13 as a member of clubs including Ramsgate Boxing Club and Hornets Boxing Club. “My mom made me because I was kind of shitty,” he said.
However, he dropped out of the scene and returned last year after making the decision to get in shape and turn his life around.
His title win led to a call from BKFC UK, a move that is likely to change Macaulay's life.
The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the sport's largest organization in the United States and United Kingdom. The British side approached Macaulay about a possible matchup in June this year.
Mack said, “This potentially means more fighting and I could make a living doing this.”
CG Boxing boss Conor Gorham said: He showed up at my gym exactly one year ago this month with the intention of changing his life. And this is exactly what he did.
“After seven fights he had won the Midlands Area Title, the British Title and now the World Bare Knuckle Title. It is absolutely amazing to say that CG Boxing Club, which was founded just two years ago, has won a World Champion. That's it.
“But this is why I do what I do and have this club, to make lives better and build a positive future. Thanks to my coach Weston Hughes for being by my side from the beginning. I would also like to thank the club's main sponsors, All Star Cargo Limited and We R Brighty, for their support.”
Follow Mac on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/macbygraves/.
