BOSTON When Joe Lauzon knocked out Jonathan Pierce on UFC Fight Night at TD Garden in 2019, many (including Dana White) thought it made for the perfect finale to his career.The East Bridgewater High graduate wasn't so certain."I said in the cage, 'I'm not saying I'm done, and I'm not saying I'm definitely going to fight again,'" Lauzon said. "But I'm open to opportunities."Lauzon, 42, is indeed fighting again. He will be featured on the upcoming Bare-knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC-92) card at Fenway Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, pitted against Stash Kuykendall in the welterweight division.During a press conference on Tuesday, July 28, Lauzon shut down the mention that he retired."Even an old dog with two teeth can still bite," said Abington's Peter 'Slippery Pete' Barrett, who is also featured on the upcoming card. "... Joe's gonna be in this kid's face non-stop, trying to put him out the whole time."Following his most recent appearance seven years ago, Lauzon trained for a bout against the now-retired Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in a marquee UFC lightweight fight in 2022.Lauzon said both made weight ahead of the first matchup, and Cerrone canceled due to an illness. Then, both made weight for a second time six weeks later, and Lauzon canceled due to a meniscus injury.Lauzon has had time to rest and recover in the aftermath. He then received a cold call from BKFC executive Rick Caldwell, gauging his interest in participating in the upcoming bare-knuckle card at Fenway, though he has never boxed before, gloves or not."I was like, 'If I don't this, I'm going to be upset with myself later,'" Lauzon said. "We've got to roll the dice and see how it goes."More: Here's what's next for Bridgewater Little League on road to WilliamsportLauzon owns a 28-15 record in his professional career from 2004-19. He began fighting in the UFC in 2006.Joe Lauzon is one of the most popular sports figures in the Boston area and were very excited for him to make his bare-knuckle debut at our Fenway Park event, BKFC founder and president David Feldman said in a statement."The biggest thing was getting back into the groove," Lauzon said of his comeback. "I feel better now physically than I did when I was fighting all of the time because you're always accumulating and collecting injuries. I've had time now to rest."Lauzon was born in Brockton and moved to East Bridgewater in third grade. He graduated from East Bridgewater High, and now lives in Bridgewater. He owns 'Lauzon Mixed Martial Arts' gyms in Raynham and Canton.In preparation for the fight at Fenway, Lauzon commuted to Chelmsford multiple times per week to spar with trainer Mike Perry. When asked what the biggest learning curve is with bare-knuckle boxing, Lauzon chuckled and said, "I don't know what I don't know yet. ...""I think my style is very good for that because I try to get in really quick, crash and close space as I punch on my way in," he said. "Usually I'm getting in so I can hit a takedown. Now, it's going to be getting into a clinch and fighting in a clinch. ... We'll see how it goes."Lauzon ranks tied with Dustin Poirier for sixth all-time in UFC Fight Night bonuses with 15.In his career, he stamped nine wins by knockout and 17 by submission (10th-most in UFC history). Lauzon TKO'd Jonathan Pierce in the span of 1:33 in the first round of his most recent appearance seven years ago, landing 28 strikes compared to Pierce's eight.After that fight, Dana White said in a press conference that he and Lauzon had a deal that the Pierce matchup would be the finale of Lauzon's career: "What better way to go out than tonight?" White said after the fight at TD Garden in 2019.A new challenge surfaced.Im so excited to fight at Fenway," Lauzon said. "Im excited about the entire thing. Its a great feeling to be fighting at home.This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: East Bridgewater fighter Joe Lauzon targets comeback at Fenway Park