A man with a beard and tattoos talks into a microphone held by another man during an interview inside a large sports arena with empty seating chairs in the background.

About Us

BIG DAWG BARE KNUCKLE BOXING

Big Dawg Bare Knuckle Boxing isn’t just a promotion — it’s a revolution.

Founded by three seasoned fighters — Lavar Johnson, George Zuniga, and Ralph Alvarado — Big Dawg is built from the inside out. With deep ties to the combat world, they understand what fighters respect and what fans crave: raw, real, unfiltered action.

Lavar “Big” Johnson is a former UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator heavyweight with 17 professional wins — 16 by knockout. Known for his explosive power and resilience, Lavar brings the grit and intensity that define Big Dawg’s DNA.

George Zuniga, a former Fresno State football player turned MMA pro, has competed in Bellator and built a strong local following. His leadership and versatility fuel the vision behind Big Dawg’s rapid rise.

Ralph Alvarado, a former fighter and owner/head trainer at Ralph’s House MMA, plays a key role in talent development and community engagement. With over 30 MMA and boxing gyms in Fresno, Ralph’s deep local ties help Big Dawg stay grounded in the fight culture that built it.

With California’s legalization of bare-knuckle boxing, Big Dawg is leading the charge in a fast-growing industry. These events are more than fights — they’re moments that bring the crowd to its feet and leave a lasting impact.

This is the future of combat sports.
And Big Dawg is here to dominate it.

At Big Dawg Bare Knuckle Boxing

We Care About the Fighter Experience

Two shirtless male boxers fighting in a boxing ring, one with tattoos and the other with a muscular build, engaged in close combat.

Big Dawg Bare Knuckle Boxing (BDBKB) is the first Bare Knuckle Boxing in the Valley BDBK is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle boxing.

In BDBKB the referees and judges are be required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights will be held under the control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BDBKB is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BDBKB unquestionably the truest form of bare-knuckle fighting. BDBKB is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle Boxing organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BDBKB is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.