Dorian Darch: “I've trained my bollox off.”

"Darkfruits" returns to the Trigon looking for a second straight finish April 19 in Cardiff.

Coming off of a much-needed win in February, Dorian Darch is full speed ahead.

After his win over Gary Slator the last time BKB visited Cardiff, the Welsh contender is ready for war. Back in the UK, Darch is looking for more when he takes on late-minute replacement Tony Barratt at BKB 40: Cardiff Brawl III.

Dorian Darch and Tony Barratt fight at BKB 40: Cardiff Brawl III on April 19th, in North America exclusively in prime time on Vice at 8 PM ET, and live internationally outside of North America at TalkSport at 5 PM BST. Learn how to watch below!

Dorian Darch: Finding footing

Upon beating Slator, Darch became a legitimate contender. He speaks on that fight, calling the challenge less than what he expected.

“I was expecting a lot tougher fight. I don't watch clips of other fighters past fights as I don't like to overthink things. But I watched an interview Gary done with Tom Ross prior to our fight and he was made to seem like some big knockout artist. Thankfully, this was not the case. I don't remember him landing anything, but I had a big lump on my head so he obviously did. Luckily, I've got a good chin, just shit skin,” Darch says with a laugh. “I landed a big right hand myself and he quit. I spoke to Gary and his father after the fight. They’re lovely blokes and I wish him the best in the future.”

It’s no secret that Darch gets bloody pretty easily. Twice now in bare knuckle has he been stopped due to cuts. But Dorian Darch believes that fighting in BKB’s Trigon suits his fighting style despite that.

“When it comes to the Trigon, I think it suits my aggressive fighting style. I either get stopped on cuts or stop my opponent. I'll be very surprised if any of my fights ever go the distance. Because of my poor skin, I've got to seek and destroy or run the risk of getting stopped on cuts and you can't run away in the Trigon, so it helps me.”

Bare knuckle or jail?

Dorian Darch talks about his upbringing as well. With his partying, trouble found the Welsh fighter. It was only when he started boxing that Darch found his way.

“Before I started boxing at around 25, I always played football and rugby which both lead to drinking. So I had my fair share of bare knuckle fights outside of the ring which, looking back, I regret. But it made me tough and luckily I grew up and started boxing to sort my head out before I ended up in prison.”

Fighting in the streets is essentially bare knuckle. So Darch extrapolates that and says that bare knuckle boxing sent him to boxing, where he cut his teeth.

“So if you look at it, bare knuckle led me to boxing to keep me out of jail. I was over the moon to be given the opportunity to fight bare knuckle without the threat of jail,” Darch laughs.

Always ready for a good fight, Darch is not underestimating his opponent, Tony Barratt. While his original opponent pulled out, Darch He promises one thing: action.

“I’m disappointed by the last minute pull out, obviously, but the replacement must be game to take the fight at this short notice and anything can happen in bare knuckle. Especially when you have tracing paper skin like me. I've trained my bollox off, so I’ve just got to keep focused and do the business Saturday night as I planned to, regardless of who's in the opposite corner.”