WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti says she will not overrule commission to stop bare knuckle boxing event

One Australian state government has been told it will have blood on its hands if someone dies during a bare knuckle fight event set to be held within weeks.

Promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is planning to make its debut in Australia in Perth next month, prompting an outcry from some sectors including health advocates.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: WA minister says she won’t step in to stop bare knuckle boxing event.

On Monday WA’s Sports Minister Rita Saffioti said she could intervene to stop it but will not do so if the state’s Combat Sports Commission gives it the tick of approval.

“I understand combat sports is not everyone’s cup of tea,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people in the community who don’t enjoy or want to watch or be involved.

“But the same issues were raised in relation to mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”

She added: “I can’t stop things just because I don’t like them. That’s why we have a Combat Sports Commission, to provide advice.”

American bare knuckle brawler Justin Thornton died in hospital more than six weeks after he hit the canvas during a fight in 2021.

The 38-year-old was knocked out in the first round of a championship fixture in Mississippi, with the heavy fall leaving him partially paralysed.

“Our government has the ability to stop this from happening and if there is a death during the event then of course that falls at the feet of our government that’s made this decision,” Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page told 7NEWS.

The commission says the fights will only go ahead if organisers meet strict conditions.

Its chairman Bob Kucera says they have taken the advice of US doctors.

But Page argued “they’re taking the advice that they want to take”.

“They’re not taking any advice from society, they’re not taking advice from us, they’re not taking any advice from anyone in our community,” Page said.

BKFC organisers are advertising the event for July 19, pending final approval.

On its website, BKFC says “only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai will be allowed to compete”.

“The referees and judges will also be required to have extensive professional combat sports experience,” the promotion says.

“Unlike other fighting organisations and combat sports internationally which claim to be ‘bare knuckle’, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle.

“This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting.

“BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest level bare knuckle fighting organisation in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognised professional combat sport.”