Victor Ortiz and Paulie Malignaggi

Finally Set to Settle Their Long-Awaited Rivalry

In BKB 62 Main Event December 5th At The Historic Orpheum Theatre, Downtown, Los Angeles, California!

Ortiz, 39, resides in Oak View, California, and enters BKB 62 with a 1-0 bare-knuckle record following his successful debut on July 18, 2026. Fighting from the southpaw stance, the 5-foot-9 former WBC welterweight world champion possesses a 70-inch reach and brings extensive experience from a professional boxing career that spanned 2004 to 2022. His conventional boxing résumé stands at 33-7-3, with 25 knockouts across 43 bouts and 211 rounds. His 75.76% knockout rate among his victories reflects the finishing power that helped establish his reputation in the sport.

Ortiz reached the pinnacle of professional boxing in April 2011, defeating previously undefeated Andre Berto by unanimous decision in an action-packed contest to capture the WBC welterweight championship. The victory established Ortiz as one of the division’s leading figures and set the stage for a career that saw him share the ring with some of boxing’s biggest names, including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marcos Maidana, and Robert Guerrero.

His championship reign brought a September 2011 showdown with Mayweather in Las Vegas, where Ortiz lost by fourth-round knockout in a controversial finish. Ortiz subsequently faced a succession of notable opponents, further establishing his credentials against elite-level competition.

After stepping away from conventional professional boxing, Ortiz made the transition to bare-knuckle competition in 2026. He debuted at BKB 56 against fellow boxing veteran Dominic Salcido on July 18, earning a unanimous decision after five rounds. The victory gave Ortiz a winning start in his new discipline and left him unbeaten entering his matchup with Malignaggi. Although his gloved-boxing career produced 25 knockout victories, Ortiz has yet to record a bare-knuckle stoppage, making December 5 another opportunity to demonstrate how his power, southpaw stance, and experience translate inside the Trigon.

“I’ve been in some of the biggest fights of my career, and now I’m ready for a completely different challenge in the Trigon. Paulie is a former world champion with a lot of experience, but this is bare-knuckle boxing and I’m coming in prepared to fight. I’m excited to give the fans a great show and show everyone what Vicious Ortiz is all about,” said Ortiz.

Standing across from him will be Malignaggi, the Brooklyn, New York, native whose quick hands, slick movement, defensive instincts, and outspoken personality made him one of boxing’s most recognizable figures during the 2000s and 2010s. Known as “The Magic Man,” the 45-year-old enters BKB 62 with a bare-knuckle record of 1-2 across three bouts spanning 2019 to 2026. He made his bare-knuckle debut on June 22, 2019, and brings experience from competition under both BKFC and BKB.

Malignaggi stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, has a 71-inch reach, and fights from the orthodox stance. His professional boxing career spanned 2001 to 2017, producing a 36-8 record with seven knockouts over 44 bouts and 361 rounds. His 19.44% knockout rate among his victories contrasts with Ortiz’s substantially higher figure, illustrating the difference between Ortiz’s power-oriented résumé and Malignaggi’s technically driven approach to winning rounds.

A former two-division world champion, Malignaggi first captured the IBF junior welterweight title in June 2007, defeating Lovemore N'dou. He later moved up to welterweight and secured his second world title in April 2012, stopping Vyacheslav Senchenko in the ninth round to claim the WBA welterweight championship. His speed, timing, movement, and combination punching helped establish him as a formidable technician, even as his comparatively modest knockout total reflected a style built around precision rather than overwhelming power.

Throughout his professional career, Malignaggi faced an impressive collection of elite opposition, including Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Adrien Broner, Shawn Porter, and Danny Garcia. His championship experience and willingness to face leading contenders made him a familiar presence on major boxing cards before his final professional appearance in March 2017.

Malignaggi subsequently ventured into bare-knuckle boxing, facing Artem Lobov at BKFC 6 in June 2019. After losing a unanimous decision, he stepped away from competition before eventually returning under the BKB banner. In October 2025, he defeated Tyler Goodjohn by split decision, demonstrating that his technical skills could remain effective in the sport. His subsequent challenge against BKB super welterweight world champion Rolando Dy ended in a second-round stoppage defeat in May 2026.

With three bare-knuckle appearances behind him, Malignaggi brings greater experience in the discipline than Ortiz, who has competed only once. However, Ortiz enters following a victory, while Malignaggi will be looking to rebound from his defeat against Dy. Their records set up an intriguing contrast: Ortiz has the greater knockout pedigree from conventional boxing, while Malignaggi has experienced more of the unique demands of fighting without gloves.

“Myself and Victor was a fight that was constantly talked about, about 20 years ago, 15 years ago. We were both world champions around the same time, we were among the big names in professional boxing. It didn’t happen then, it almost happened a couple of times, it didn’t happen, and sure enough, life comes full circle. Be ready, Vic. December 5th, I’m coming to your hometown, and I’m taking you out,” said Malignaggi.

The historical significance of the matchup lies in the fact that both men achieved world championship status during overlapping periods of their careers but never met in a professional boxing ring. Ortiz captured the WBC welterweight championship in 2011, while Malignaggi claimed the WBA welterweight title in 2012. Their respective careers brought them into the orbit of many of the same elite fighters, but a direct confrontation remained elusive. BKB 62 will finally deliver that long-discussed encounter in a format that presents a fresh challenge to both former champions.

The setting adds another distinctive element to the occasion. Located on South Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, the Orpheum Theatre is a historic entertainment venue providing a unique backdrop for BKB’s return to the city. Instead of a conventional boxing ring, the fighters will enter the Trigon, BKB’s triangular fighting area, where the confined space and different angles of engagement demand adjustments from competitors accustomed to traditional boxing.

For Ortiz, the assignment represents an opportunity to build on his successful bare-knuckle debut and establish himself against an opponent with an accomplished championship pedigree.

For Malignaggi, it is a chance to draw on decades of elite-level boxing experience and the lessons learned from his previous bare-knuckle appearances. With Ortiz’s southpaw stance and knockout history facing Malignaggi’s orthodox approach, movement, and technical experience, the five-round contest offers a fascinating stylistic contrast.

BKB 62 will bring two former world champions together in a matchup combining nostalgia, unfinished business, and the unpredictability of bare-knuckle competition. With Ortiz competing close to home and Malignaggi promising to arrive with victory on his mind, the stage is set for an entertaining main event when the gloves come off at the Orpheum Theatre on December 5.

Ortiz vs. Malignaggi takes place Saturday, December 5, 2026, at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The main event is scheduled for five rounds at super welterweight inside the Mighty Trigon. 

ABOUT BKB BARE KNUCKLE BOXING

BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing is the world’s largest professional bare-knuckle boxing organization and one of the world’s leading combat sports properties. The organization produces live events across the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally, showcasing world championship-caliber bare-knuckle boxing featuring elite athletes from around the globe.

BKB reaches millions of fans through an expanding network of premium broadcast and streaming partners, including VICE TV (U.S. and Canada), talkSPORT (U.K. and Ireland), and Telemundo (Spanish-language audiences across the U.S.). The organization is also the most-viewed live sports property on TikTok, delivering industry-leading digital reach, engagement, and fan interaction.

Headquartered in the United States, BKB continues its rapid international expansion with world-class events in iconic cities including Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Mexico.