News UPDATE: Justin Thornton who was brutally KO'd at BKFC 20 last August has passed away

[TCE]

Mod edit:
RIP Justin Thornton

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Previous/Original post:

I thought I would post this here as the BKFC events get play by play in the heavies, but please mods, feel free to move it.

So I hadn't heard any updates from the event management myself, and have been doing a little digging and found this Reddit post.



According to this post, once he was knocked out and faceplanted the canvas, he didn't move a muscle at all, horrifying the audience there.

A post from a user earlier posted this:

I found an update from a Facebook podcast from the corner woman that was in Justin's corner. She has been keeping in touch with Justin's mother since the injury. Spinal inflammation, he is on a ventilator. Possible herniated disc in neck. She stated they didn't know if he was going to gain full mobility at this point.

Here is the Podcast, where she talks about it around the 15 minute mark.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live...0T-GK1C&v=205651178246735&ref=watch_permalink

Spoiler: Here is the knockout

Please pray for Justin Thornton.

I hope he makes a full recovery, and my thoughts are with him, his friends and family at this tragic time.

 

[MartiniSIDe]

Ah man.

Sometimes contact sports fuckin sucks.

Hope it all goes well for him.

 

[Kryptt]

Such is the possible price of loving and being involved in extreme sports.

I wish a speedy and full recovery for the man and thoughts with his family and friends.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Got damn. That's fucking brutal to put it lightly. Positive thoughts for a full recovery.

 

[560ti]

Shame on the promoter as well. 30lbs smaller and on a 5 fight losing streak and they give him a fighter with a combined fight record of 15-1

It was a clear cut squash match. There's no way a guy with a 6-18 record who recent fought at 175lb catchweight should be fighting 240lb 15-1 guy

They purposely sent that guy out there to get knocked out brutally

 

[Jackonfire]

I think a lot of times fans take for granted just how dangerous this sport really is. I hope he makes a full recovery.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

Ah man.

Sometimes contact sports fuckin sucks.

Hope it all goes well for him.

99% of the time.

 

[thebesteva21]

I know all contact sports have risk involved, but something tells me bareknuckled fighting with guys 200+ pounds will not end well. Sounds like this poor bastard was severely overmatched as well. I wish him and his family nothing but the best, he was probably trying to grab some quick cash and paid a hefty price.

 

[xHeadx]

Damn man, brutal. Praying for speedy & full recovery.

 

[MeanStreets]

That is terrible. Thoughts are with Justin and his loved ones.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Shame on the promoter as well. 30lbs smaller and on a 5 fight losing streak and they give him a fighter with a combined fight record of 15-1

It was a clear cut squash match. There's no way a guy with a 6-18 record who recent fought at 175lb catchweight should be fighting 240lb 15-1 guy

They purposely sent that guy out there to get knocked out brutally

This is a real problem, shit like this. This is why they have athletic commissions, to stop stuff like this happening, though I'm guessing bare knuckle is still outside their jurisdiction?

Anyway all the best to this bloke, I always feel bad as a combat sport fan when athletes get badly hurt, sometimes I wonder why I'm watching and encouraging it.

 

[TCE]

Why couldn’t this happen to Sterling instead ?

Wishing a serious life changing injury on someone....not cool at all.

And if you was joking, not something to joke about either.

 

[johny ringo]

Damn that sucks. Praying for a full recovery.

edit. It’s easy sitting back and watching and judging these men and women. They put it on the line for us to watch, Judge and ridicule all while they slay or go out on their shield. Speedy recovery pal. You’re a warrior.

 

[TheMaster]

I thought I would post this here as the BKFC events get play by play in the heavies, but please mods, feel free to move it.

So I hadn't heard any updates from the event management myself, and have been doing a little digging and found this Reddit post.



According to this post, once he was knocked out and faceplanted the canvas, he didn't move a muscle at all, horrifying the audience there.

A post from a user earlier posted this:



Here is the Podcast, where she talks about it around the 15 minute mark.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live...0T-GK1C&v=205651178246735&ref=watch_permalink

Spoiler: Here is the knockout

Please pray for Justin Thornton.

I hope he makes a full recovery, and my thoughts are with him, his friends and family at this tragic time.

Sad, but this isn't a game.
He looks like he shouldn't have been in there, stumbling forward with hands down no proper guard and throwing jabs. Was waiting to get KO'd.
Booker deserves serious flack as well.

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

We knew something was wrong when it took 15+ minutes to see Cleckler get his hand raised, they kept playing promos and graphics on repeat.

I mean, watch the way he lands....
He was out on his way down, you can see that he's completely seized up and his head is at a fucked up angle from his torso. He was crunched when he landed

Hope the guy lives, hope that he walks again. His prizefighting career is done

 

[DatSamboKid]

Sending prayers towards this warrior.

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

If Justin does not make a full recovery this will absolutely be the end of Bare Knuckle FC in the United States.

As it should be since the UFC & Bellator have managed to go 18 plus years thankfully without a fighter sustaining an injury that left them paralyzed.

I hope Bare Knuckle has adequate catastrophic injury insurance because they are going to be bankrupted (and rightfully so) if this man was paralyzed during a "bare knuckle boxing match".

Edit (10/4/2021): RIP Justin Thornton

This was a preventable death that is on the hands of the promoter (BKFC).

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

I hope he makes a recovery and gets back to good health

 

[JustOnce]

I thought I would post this here as the BKFC events get play by play in the heavies, but please mods, feel free to move it.

So I hadn't heard any updates from the event management myself, and have been doing a little digging and found this Reddit post.



According to this post, once he was knocked out and faceplanted the canvas, he didn't move a muscle at all, horrifying the audience there.

A post from a user earlier posted this:



Here is the Podcast, where she talks about it around the 15 minute mark.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live...0T-GK1C&v=205651178246735&ref=watch_permalink

Spoiler: Here is the knockout

Please pray for Justin Thornton.

I hope he makes a full recovery, and my thoughts are with him, his friends and family at this tragic time.

........

Man




Hope for the best..full recovery

 

[johny ringo]

We knew something was wrong when it took 15+ minutes to see Cleckler get his hand raised, they kept playing promos and graphics on repeat.

I mean, watch the way he lands....
He was out on his way down, you can see that he's completely seized up and his head is at a fucked up angle from his torso. He was crunched when he landed

Hope the guy lives, hope that he walks again. His prizefighting career is done

I missed that. It’s never good when they divert the topic like that.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

I said in the pbp that it didn’t look good when they were calling for the EMTs. I said I hoped he was alright, and I still hope so.

When it first happened the sound of his head hitting the canvas was bad. It was funny until he didn’t start moving. Hope he’ll be ok. And Cleckler was very classy about it. No dancing around celebrating. He looked pretty concerned the whole time.