Yoel Romero “fell ill” and was forced to withdraw from KnuckleMania 6.
It must be pretty serious, since the bare knuckle fight card, headlined by the trilogy between Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski — is not scheduled until Feb. 7 in Philadelphia. In addition, the promotion already has a replacement, suggesting “Soldier of God” was scratched long before today’s announcement.
Replacing Romero is Bellator MMA veteran David “The Redneck” Lundell.
“Unfortunately I have to withdraw from my scheduled fight against Lorenzo Hunt at KnuckleMania VI due to a very strong strain of the flu,” someone claiming to be Romero said in today’s release. “During my weight cut for RAF I felt my immune system was low and I was feeling very weak. A few days after my January 10th RAF match I started to experience severe flu symptoms. I am extremely disappointed but I’ve been unable to train and I need to make my health a priority. I look forward to returning to action to face Lorenzo Hunt at a later date.”
Romero missed weight for that event and subsequently lost his match against Stephen Buchanan.
“I’m pissed that Yoel Romero chickened out of the fight at the last minute,” said former opponent, Lorenzo Hunt. “But in honesty, he was a fool to accept the fight with me in the first place in his golden years. I heard somewhere that Cuba has free medical care. He was gonna need it. I honestly don’t care who they put in there with me. It’s my time. I am the best bare-knuckle fighter in the world, anyone who stands across from me at this point in my life will be hospitalized, I guarantee it.”
Romero, 48, debuted with a second-round knockout at BKFC 80 last fall.
“It’s unfortunate that Yoel Romero has taken ill and is unable to compete at KnuckleMania VI,” said David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC. “However, Lorenzo Hunt versus David Mundell is an iconic clash between two of the very best bare-knuckle fighters in the world and two of the most accomplished in our company. Fans should expect an explosive battle with fireworks from the opening bell.”
Hunt vs. Lundell will be a non-title catchweight bout staged at 199 pounds.
