Sharif Rahman takes his 9-0 record into BKB bare-knuckle move

Sharif Rahman is taking a 9-0 professional record into bare-knuckle boxing, with four of those victories coming by knockout. The 30-year-old has signed a multi-fight agreement with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, although his debut date and first opponent have not been confirmed.

Rahman, known as “C3”, said he values his unbeaten record but does not view it as something that must be preserved at any cost. His approach is shaped by earlier generations of boxing, when leading fighters regularly faced one another and defeats were accepted as part of a long career.

The Baltimore native, who is now based in Las Vegas, is the son of former two-time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and the brother of professional boxer Hasim Rahman Jr. His move to BKB gives him a new challenge outside conventional boxing, where his record and family name have been part of his identity.

BKB fights take place without boxing gloves inside the promotion’s three-sided Trigon. Rahman sees that format as a way to test himself without relying on an undefeated record, and has described the change as an opportunity to show that he belongs among the promotion’s best fighters.

He also recognises the modern advantages of remaining unbeaten. An unblemished record can help boxers secure major opportunities and strengthen their position in negotiations, while fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, Terence Crawford and Andre Ward have shown that a career without a defeat can support a lasting legacy.

Rahman’s signing adds him to a group of boxers who have recently moved into BKB, including Victor Ortiz, Lee Selby, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Aspen Ladd and Alfredo Angulo. He is not pursuing a defeat, but believes one loss would not determine the value of his career. A victory would extend the Rahman family’s presence into bare-knuckle boxing, while a defeat would leave his wider ambitions intact.