BARE-KNUCKLE boxing is brutal, bloodthirsty sport without gloves or headgear – but it is making strides to become a mainstream TV sensation.
Fighters often suffer serious facial injuries including broken noses, lost teeth and gruesome cuts.
Lobov won his first BKB FC fight in April beating fellow former UFC fighter Jason KnightCredit: Phil Lambert / BKFC
Earlier this year, two-time boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi fought ex-UFC fighter Artem Lobov, a training partner of Conor McGregor, in a major bare-knuckle contest.
WHAT IS BARE-KNUCKLE BOXING?
The first recorded bare-knuckle bout took place in 1681 in England with James Figg becoming the first champion 110 years later.
Bare-knuckle boxing persisted until 1867 when the Marquess of Queensberry Rules were introduced.
The new regulations insisted on gloves – but to protect the hands, not the face.
Boxing evolved into an acceptable sport, becoming part of the Olympics in the 1900’s.
Bare-knuckle bouts became the forgotten, unspoken side of the sport.
In the UK during the 1970’s unlicensed boxing picked up again.
Notorious underworld characters such as Lenny McClean and Roy Shaw fought bare-knuckle as they were banned from boxing professionally due to their criminal pasts.
Irish travellers often settled feuds through bare-knuckle, illegal, fights, as highlighted in the 2000 movie Snatch, starring Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt played an Irish traveller in the 2000 movie ‘Snatch’Credit: Alamy
Notorious underworld characters such as Lenny McClean, right, and Roy Shaw fought bare-knuckle as they were banned from boxing professionallyCredit: Rex Features
IS IT LEGAL?
Yes. It has never been illegal in the UK.
But it has no official regulator and is not governed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC).
This means bare knuckle clubs are allowed to operate without licences unless the government intervenes.
In America it varies state by state.
Promoter David Feldman launched Bare-Knuckle Boxing FC. In June 2018 Wyoming offered to sanction BKB FC’s first show – and they have since staged six.
Feldman told SunSport: “We worked to get it legal and made into a legitimate sport in the United States and now it’s becoming that and more and more states are opening their doors to us.”
Legal bare-knuckle bouts takes place in England but it is not sanctioned by a governing bodyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bare-knuckle is legal in states of America with promoter David Feldman staging his first event in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Exposed knuckles are not permitted in the UK, meaning fighters wrap bandages over the knuckles – but still promoting it as bare-knuckle boxing.
The rules are similar to boxing in terms of biting, low blows, rabbit punching, elbows are all outlawed.
However, boxing while holding is allowed.
Bare-knuckle has two-minute rounds fought over three, five and seven rounds.
Ex-UFC star Lobov claims this format does not suit traditional boxers, like Malignaggi, and likens bare-knuckle to a “sprint” rather than a “marathon” over 12 rounds.
Lobov told SunSport: “The rounds are short and there’s no gloves meaning the shots will land.
“It’s a sprint rather than a marathon and if you look at Paulie’s fights he was always a marathon fighter.
“He needs the 12 rounds, he needs to break people down. He’s not got power, he works the jab – this suits me down to the ground. I’ve always been known as a hard, explosive puncher.”
In the UK bare-knuckle boxers have to have wrapping over the knuckles in order for it to be legalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In the US the knuckles are exposed with no laws demanding bandages cover themCredit: Phil Lambert / BKFC
IS IT SAFE?
After Lobov’s BKB FC debut, a points win over ex-MMA fighter Jason Knight in April, the pair were left battered and bruised.
Knight’s teeth were knocked out and the pair later shared gruesome pictures of their battle wounds.
However, BKB president Feldman explained to us the damage sustained by his fighters come in the way of scars and bruises – rather than internal brain problems and concussions.
Feldman said: “I’m not going to say it’s any safer than MMA or boxing but 100 per cent it is no more dangerous.
“Fighters are getting cuts to the face but they’re not actually getting concussions or the broken bones.
“A big thing is these guys aren’t punching as hard with their bare knuckles as they would with the gloves.
“If I told you to punch a brick wall you’re likely to punch it fairly light – now put a big 16oz or 10 oz glove on it you’re definitely going to punch it harder than with the bare fist.
BKB FC chief Feldman argues his fighters suffer less internal brain injuriesCredit: Phil Lambert / BKFC
“And because of that there isn’t as much concussion, or brain rattling, or any of the trauma. The guys aren’t hitting with 100 per cent force.”
However, brain injury association Headway argue any sport involving punches to the head, gloves or not, will cause life threatening injuries.
Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway, said: “Boxing in any form is an inherently dangerous sport.
“Any so-called sport in which the aim is to render your opponent senseless by repeatedly targeting blows to their head should be banned – a view shared by the British Medical Association and numerous other medical bodies across the world.
“Every time a boxer enters the ring, there is a significant risk they may sustain a serious and life-changing brain injury.”
Feldman claims bare-knuckle fighter suffer more cuts but less brain injuriesCredit: Rex Features
THE RISE IN POPULARITY
Both Stateside and in the UK bare-knuckle has seen a rise in popularity in the last five years – becoming a PPV product and selling out arenas.
YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, shot to fame for his “backyard brawls” in the early 2000’s.
Liverpool gangster Shaun Smith, famed as “The World’s Scariest Debt Collector” put his love for fighting into a bare-knuckle boxing promotion and featured in a Netflix documentary: “Bare Knuckle Fight Club”.
It documents his stable of fighters, the brutality in the bouts and popularity of his shows – that even saw Chelsea legend Joe Cole attend – but ended in a mass brawl with opposing fans.
In the UK ex-UFC fighter Brad Pickett, journeyman boxer Robin Deakin, and former British boxing champion Matty Askin have all crossed over to bare-knuckle, developing the sport’s popularity.
Promoter Feldman stresses continuous work to prove to US states the sport is not only safe but marketable has led to a rise of acceptance – thus turning the sport mainstream.
Feldman added: “We’re negotiating with a couple of different TV platforms at the moment and we predict that in the next three months we’ll have a deal and we can get fans watching it for free.”
Liverpool gangster Shaun Smith, famed as ‘The World’s Scariest Debt Collector’ runs a UK bare-knuckle promotionCredit: Peter Powell – The Sun
Ex-street fighter Kimbo Slice used his fame on YouTube to fight in pro boxing and MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
