MARBELLA, Spain — Based on a recent pre-fight news conference in Europe, there is nothing friendly about the upcoming bare-knuckle boxing title bout between Hickory’s Tony “Loco” Soto and Franco Tenaglia.
Soto, a Brooklyn native and Catawba County resident, is set to face Tenaglia on Oct. 12 for the vacant lightweight championship in the Bare Knuckles Fighting Championship promotion.
The two traded insults and predictions ahead of the fight. Tenaglia questioned whether Soto would last one round. Soto had an answer.
“I’m going to (expletive) cut you up and turn your face into chopped meat,” Soto said. “I’m going to (expletive) make cheeseburgers out of you, American style.”
To add to the fight’s already high stakes, it figures to be the main event in one of the biggest nights of the promotion’s history. Scheduled in an open-air bullfighting arena in Marbella, Spain, it will be only the third BKFC event on the European continent. It will also be one of the first since former UFC champion Connor McGregor became part owner of the promotion in April.
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Connor McGregor’s interest
During the news conference, McGregor, seated next to Soto, said his interest in BKFC was more than just financial.
“I started out as a boxer and bare-knuckle fighting is the purest form,” McGregor said. “What attracts me to this company is that these are bad men and women here in this (expletive) company. You’ve got to be. You’re all talking about cutting each other up. A jab splits the skin in this game. The stakes are on another level.”
McGregor also hinted that his future participation may go deeper than simply putting on news conferences and writing checks.
“I have a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left,” he said. “We’ve got three lightweights up here. ... I have my eye on them. I’m not up here just as an owner.”
Soto hinted that after he finished Tenaglia, he’d welcome a challenge from McGregor, saying if the former UFC champ wanted to get his feet wet, he’d be happy to oblige.
The title on the line
Soto is 6-0 in his BKFC career. He grew up in Brooklyn where he said he fought on the streets as a kid and a young man. He said when he heard about BKFC, he couldn’t believe he could fight and get paid.
“It started out as a hobby that turned into an obsession,” he said in 2023.
Now, Soto is a seasoned professional. He is currently ranked as the No. 2 lightweight contender in the promotion. His last two fights, wins over former UFC fighter Kevin Croom and professional boxer Tyler Goodjohn, were both named Fight of the Night, demonstrating his ability to win gritty contests over tough opponents.
Tenaglia is 3-0 in his BKFC career, including a win over then-top lightweight contender James Lilley. Tenaglia came to BKFC by way of mixed martial arts, where he holds a 3-2 professional record, including two knockout wins.
Tenaglia, originally from Argentina, also grew up fighting on the streets, according to his profile on . He told Soto that he believes his background makes him perfectly suited to be the next bare-knuckle champ.
Conversely, Soto believes his slippery defense and quick, clinical striking will be too much for Tenaglia to handle.
Tony “Loco” Soto Day
Soto, who owns Loco Soto Boxing in Hickory, was honored by Hickory Mayor Hank Guess and the city council with a proclamation declaring June 24 to be Tony “Loco” Soto Day.
The proclamation called attention to Soto’s success in the ring, his work at the gym and his reputation as a married family man.
Soto offers fitness and training programs for young people and adults as well as self-defense classes. In August, the gym is planning an event called Guns Down, Life Up. It is designed to bring the community together against gun violence.
Soto said teaching self-defense and fighting techniques can reduce gun violence. He said when a person knows how to defend themselves, they will be much less likely to resort to guns or other weapons.
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