RUSSIA’S brutal and bloody bareknuckle boxing is the ultimate high risk, low reward sport.
The brave, or totally bonkers, fighters put their bodies on the line to be crowned champion – and win a relatively paltry £10,000 in prize money.
Russia’s bareknuckle boxing is one of the most brutal and bloody sports aroundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Fighters have bandages wrapped on their wrists but nothing to soften the blows to their own hands or opponentsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The sport is not one for the faint hearted with some horrendous injuries on displayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Hardcore Fighting Championships is underway and is Russia’s first professional bareknuckle fighting league.
And with the round-of-16 stage taking place on Monday, it was a graphic affair inside the ring.
Fighters only have thin wraps around their wrists with no protection, meaning hands and faces are often barely recognisable by the end of a bout.
To make matters even more bizarre, the cage is located on board a huge cargo ship docked in Moscow.
Small crowds ignored any Covid fears on Monday to watch the 16 remaining fighters battle it out for a spot in the quarter-finals – and ultimately for the one million roubles prize.
The event attracts plenty of professional fighters while millions of fans watch on at home.
Big names include Zelemkhan “Machine Gunner” Dukaev, Yevgeny “Sailor” Kurdanov and Firuz “Sympathetic” Yusupov.
The reward for all the battering and the blood is a mere £10,000 for the overall winnerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This fighter looked like he’d earned his moneyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The match up between the food delivery rivals ended in smiles for Andrei Kiselev and Anton ShchipochevCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The contest also featured a fight between two rival couriers for food companies, Andrei Kiselev and Anton Shchipochev.
With its roots in the ancient empires of Greece and Rome, bare-knuckle boxing has never been illegal in the UK but has no official regulator and is not governed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC).
It is now enjoying a resurgence in the UK with events attracting up to 800 fans and tickets costing close to £100.
Organisers claimed to SunSport it is actually safer than regular boxing.
Meanwhile, Shaun Smith runs Smithy’s Gym in Warrington alongside wife Amanda and told LADbible: “For me, it’s the ultimate test of your manhood.
“You won’t get anything more raw than having a fight with your bare fists.
“Something’s going to get broken, something’s going to bleed. These men are going into it knowing that this isn’t a case of it might happen. It definitely will happen.
“It’s the most extreme sport you can do.
“Professional boxing is good. MMA is good. Muay Thai is good. They’re all extreme, hard sports, but bare-knuckle boxing has just got that extra venom.”
Fighters are usually finish bouts covered in blood Credit: Getty Images – Getty
One fighter has a mouth full of blood as he gets up close and personal with his opponentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Another competitor in Russia has blood running down his head from a heavy blow Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The action took place inside a cage set up on board the Rio-1 vessel ship in MoscowCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The inaugural Hardcore Fighting Championship attracted a number of professional combat athletes Credit: Getty Images – Getty
A small crowd was in attendance for the fights – with no social distancing or face masks enforcedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Inside the bloody and brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing where fighters break their bones and teeth end up in the crowd
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
