Jarome Hatch defends his Police Gazette cruiserweight world diamond belt against Marko Martinjak in a rematch at BYB 18 on June 25th.
This huge cross-promotional event between BYB Extreme and BKB emanates from Indigo at The O2 Arena in London, England. The fistic fireworks broadcast in North America on BeIN Sports.
Hatch spoke to Dylan Bowker of Bare Knuckle News before this US versus UK showdown. Excerpts from the chat are below.
Jarome Hatch
Can you speak to the pride you feel being interwoven into the rich lineage of the Police Gazette belt?
“I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was when I went to go and fight for it. It was just another fight for me and that’s what it will always be is just another fight. No one fight is more important than the other. I had a dynamic change in my mental state over the last year. Think things have really fallen into place with that. The Police Gazette, it was a huge thing because I’ve always wanted to just kind of stamp my name in history. That was one of the many ways I plan to do so.”
“That’s what I teach my kids, you know, is as a man all you have is your name and your word. So when they both jive with one another so I can really try to push being a good example for them and being able to accomplish things that was never a goal of mine. Like I said this has just been a hobby that has really taken off for me. Started to take it full-time along with other business ventures. But to have the oldest belt in combat history, you know, 1884, John L Sullivan, and all that, it was a huge thing.”
BYB vs BKB
“I actually have it displayed in my house right there. I’ve got my other one there and start chasing some more. To see where they all come from, it was like the first original belt, is awesome. To be able to have that and it’s mine. Something that my kids; I can pass down to my kids and give them something to also look forward to. Scott Burt, he really filled us in on the whole thing. I’ve done a lot of research on the Police Gazette, the foundation, the belt, and just kind of where it comes from. It’s amazing.”
What was it like making history in Dubai by bringing bare-knuckle boxing out there as you claimed the PG belt in the first fight versus Marko Martinjak?
“It was really good to actually go out there. Not only because it’s been a bucket list thing of mine. I did it to go out there and be able to experience that. Let this sport help me accomplish things on my bucket list as well with the traveling aspect of life. My profession was ironwork. So I build skyscrapers and ethanol plants, power plants, things like that. The power side of things into the plants with the iron and rigging. So the aspect of being able to go out there and see the architecture was incredible.”
“I was just going out there to fight. I was like well I mean, it’s just a fight. So I don’t ever think of fights, I don’t let them get to me. Just another day, it’s another fight. I’m comfortable in there. So to be able to go out there and like I said, it didn’t really hit me until after. Once I had known ok, it’s the first one in the Gulf region. It’s the first one here, this first, this first, and I was just; I was able to headline it, it was an incredible opportunity and I was able to capitalize on it. So I’m looking forward to the rematch.”
BYB 18
“I know their way around it as far as I think that he should have definitely fought a couple of other guys to make his way back up. But they’re doing a USA vs UK and BYB vs BKB, I think that, you know, as usual the Americans are gonna come out on top. No disrespect to the UK or to the people there. It takes a man to get in there and fight. But I believe in the team that we have with BYB and I believe in the Trigon. It’s definitely something that gives us the upper hand as well.”
Jarome Hatch continued, “To be able to do it with the first-ever Ryder Cup, Police Gazette Ryder Cup that they’re doing, that’s an incredible accomplishment too. So it’s good to be able to be a part of that and bringing that home as well. Along with bringing my belt back home.”
Jarome Hatch vs Marko Martinjak
Your bare knuckle record speaks volumes with 3-0 with all wins via first-round finish. Do you expect that trend to continue at BYB 18?
“Yes, sir. Yeah, I do plan to take him out quick. I know that the last time I came in kind of sloppy. He tagged me once really good and dropped me. The other time I was on the back of my heels. But whatever, they counted it, it doesn’t matter. Hit me right in the eyeball and I couldn’t see out of my left eye. So finally after I was trying to parry it, he caught me a couple more times after that. I still couldn’t see so I just finally said well, **** it.”
“So I closed my eye and then started to just kind of went in for it at that point. Then just fell back onto my natural instincts of what I’ve trained for. My coach, we’ve gotten it to where it’s just muscle memory. So no disrespect to him but with the training and stuff that I do with my coach and the things that we do, I could do with my eyes closed. With this rematch, I’ve always made the joke but I’m serious too they brought out the option on the last one, this time they better bring the casket.”
Jarome Hatch continued, “Because I’m not messing around with this guy. For him to want to take the rematch and I only hit him twice, so that’s fine. He’s got a whole new world coming. So let’s hope that he goes out quick or he’s going to take a beating.”
