I have seen a lot of young heavyweights across multiple combat sports, but Jesse "The Reaper" Sparks might be the most imposing one I've seen in a while. Sparks, who fights for Bare Knuckle Boxing, is just 23 years old. He is inexperienced with just three bare knuckle bouts on his resume. However, Sparks is a gifted KO artist with a vicious and prone-to-go-viral mean streak.
When you see him, he looks like he should be someone's edge rusher, but with his complexion, low-fade haircut and high-volume body art, he looks like the real-life version of Fight Night Champion's Isaac Frost. If you know, then you know. I had an opportunity to observe him leading up to his first-round destruction of Darius LeSane at The Novo in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 18.
In a word, I knew I was looking at a potential star. Let's talk bare knuckle.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
Nickname |
"The Reaper" |
Age |
23 |
Division |
Heavyweight |
BKB Record |
2-0 |
Latest Win |
KO1 over Darius LeSane, BKB 56 |
Broadcast |
VICE TV (US), talkSPORT (UK) |
Sparks is so young and there are moments when you see the youthfulness. Other times, you simply see a hulking combat sports heavyweight who you don't want to piss off.
He moved to 2-0 under the BKB banner on a sold-out night at The Novo, and the physical mismatch told its own story. Sparks weighed in at 256.4 pounds — more than 40 clear of LeSane.
That edge can be good and bad for him. I'm hoping for the former. In a time where BKB and bare knuckle on a whole needs a young star, Sparks could be it.
BKB's calendar gives him a runway. The promotion heads to Tijuana on September 19 after its Los Angeles debut sold out. Put The Reaper on that card and see what breaks.
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