What was supposed to be a showcase between a seasoned boxing star and a rising bare-knuckle champion quickly turned into a statement performance from Rolando Dy.
Fighting under the bright lights of BKB Mayhem in Manchester on Sunday, Dy needed only two rounds to remind everyone why he currently sits atop the bare-knuckle super welterweight division.
Across from him stood former two-division boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi, a veteran known for his sharp counterpunching. But from the opening bell, the Filipino champion dictated the fight on his own terms.
Dy applied pressure immediately, forcing Malignaggi to fight at an uncomfortable pace. The former boxing champion struggled to create space as the Filipino relentlessly marched forward, looking for openings with every exchange.
Then came the moment that changed the fight completely. Just five seconds into the second round, Dy unleashed a crushing left hook-right straight combination that sent Malignaggi crashing to the canvas for the first time. Although the Italian-American veteran beat the count, the champion sensed the finish instantly.
Dy stormed forward with another barrage, overwhelming Malignaggi with unanswered punches before dropping him again for good. This time, the “Magic Man” stayed down as the referee completed the count.
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DY INCREDIBLE
Filipino fighter Rolando Dy remains the BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing super welterweight champion after dismantling former world boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi in just two rounds at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.#BKB54 #BKB pic.twitter.com/faXHXNdm49
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 17, 2026
The emphatic victory improved Dy’s bare-knuckle record to 6-1 with five knockouts and further strengthened his growing reputation in the sport.
Long before stepping into the ring, Dy already envisioned a stoppage win against the former world champion.
“If my game plan and the way I see it happening, it will be a fourth-round knockout or TKO,” Dy said.
While the finish came even earlier than expected, the confidence reflected how comfortable the 34-year-old has become in bare-knuckle competition after transitioning from mixed martial arts.
Dy also embraced the increasing spotlight on bare-knuckle boxing, especially with more recognizable names joining the promotion.
“It means a lot of attention to the sport and me as well as an athlete, but they’re all in lower weight classes,” the Filipino fighter said.
The victory adds another major chapter to Dy’s unlikely rise in combat sports. Just last year, he became the first Filipino bare-knuckle boxing world champion after capturing the BKB super welterweight crown. Now, with a dominant knockout win over a former boxing world champion, the son of former Filipino fighter Rolando Navarrete continues carving out his own legacy.
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