Kai Stewart Is Focused on BKFC 87 Title Defense but Eyes Two Other Belts
Kai Stewart is looking to notch another defense of his featherweight title later this week, but he does have his eyes on other BKFC championships following the Hollywood, Florida card on Friday. While Stewart is obviously fixated on this fight with Nico Gaffie, the 145-pound kingpin is also interested in a 135-pound championship opportunity.
Beyond fighting reigning BKFC bantamweight champion Justin Ibarrola, clashes with the likes of BKFC fighter/ former decorated gloved boxing champ Jamel Herring, and the winner of Austin Trout versus Ben Bonner for that vacant BKFC lightweight title also capture the interest of ‘Hefty Bag.’ When touching on how it seems like the BKFC featherweight champion has a wealth of options ahead of him, Kai Stewart said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, and that’s only talking about world titles. The cool thing about me is I’m so young, and I have such a ceiling that god forbid something bad were to happen, look at all the exciting fights that we can make with people that I can’t fight because of the title. Like Luis Palomino has the King of the Streets belt. Let’s f***in’ go.”
“He talks s**t about me. Let’s put up or shut up. We have; who else? Tony Soto, 0 and three in his last three. That would still make for a good fight because we f***in’ hate each other. So, just the sky is the limit. I do think that I’m going to be a three-division champion. I do believe that I’m going to move forward as a record-breaking six-time world champion for BKFC, but time will tell. God will tell.”
“First things first, we got to get through Nico Gaffie. But at the end of the day, I don’t think anybody compares to me. Probably not going to 155 if [Austin] Trout is the champion only because I don’t need to bare knuckle box my bros. Like he’s a bro. He’s great. He’s one of the best. He admitted to watching videos of how I did a lot of clinch work leading up to his Palomino fight.
Kai Stewart eyes 10 featherweight title defenses, would fight ben bonner if he wins lightweight gold
As Kai Stewart further expounded upon his feelings on a potential gloveless showdown with ‘No Doubt’ Trout and the quandary that would present, Stewart continued [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“So, like I know that there’s just a general level of respect there that it’s just a little different than like boxing a homie or [doing] MMA [with] a homie, but like bare knuckle boxing a homie is pretty f***ed up. So, if Ben Bonner wins that belt, 155 will be something I genuinely want to do. But until then, Justin Ibarrola is like taking candy from a baby. My division, I can just keep stacking up to be that 10-time world champion.”
“So I can circle back to that equity deal that they mentioned at the Champion’s Summit last year. So really whatever happens happens. I just do plan to be active. So I just hope the belt doesn’t hold me back and I get to remain as active as possible this year with fighting three times. I’m hoping three fights this year.”
