Leeds bare knuckle fighter Jonathan Graham’s dramatic second round knockout of Navid Mansouri stunned the audience at Manchester’s AO Arena (27 September 2025) and saw the Yorkshire fighter secure the BKFC’s inaugural UK lightweight championship title.
“The fight was easier than I expected,” said Graham. “I’d prepared myself for hell, but I put on what’s been described as a masterclass and came out relatively unscathed. It was all unreal, an amazing night. The atmosphere, the crowd, the venue everything was top class. I wasn’t hurt at any point. From the first bell I was landing heavy shots, and I first dropped him 90 seconds into the bout. I knew it wouldn’t go the scheduled five rounds distance. I knocked him out cold just before round two ended. Despite the violence I get on well with Navid. He’s a good guy.”
Describing himself as a ‘South Leeds lad through and through,’ thirty-seven-year-old father of two Graham lives in Oulton but grew up in Hunslet. “I won my first two bare knuckle bouts including my debut in Leeds in 2023. Last year I boxed for the BKFC welterweight title but lost to Connor Tierney. I might defend the lightweight title or press on soon for world honours. I want to thank my family, my team, my sponsors, and all the fans who supported me through buying tickets. This belt’s for all of us. I also want to thank BKFC UK for the platform provided to showcase my skills.”
Graham was an amateur boxer in his youth and won most of his 33 bouts. In his early twenties he’d enjoyed a two-year professional career as a gloved fighter winning five professional bouts. “For various reasons I didn’t carry on, but I’m determined to make a success of my return to fighting. This win is the first of many.”
“My children are over the moon with me winning the belt. My younger son is tipped to be a champion boxer himself. That’s for the future. For now, I’m striving every day to be a quality role model for them. I’m working with my coach Joe McLaughlin preparing to open A Side our gym in Normanton later this month. It’ll be one of Britain’s first purpose-built bare-knuckle gyms.”
This post was written by James Bovington
Photos: Lee Hamilton Cooper
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