Bare Knuckle Boxing's Future

Traditional bare knuckle boxing

Common knowledge would suggest that only former convicts and brawlers still do it. Yet, a thriving community exists around bare-knuckle boxing, that extends beyond a barroom brawl and into a legitimate sport. At its core bare-knuckle boxing is a traditionally English sport that began in the early 1700s. Back then it was considered a gentleman’s sport by its creator James Figg, who gave classes on “the Noble Science of Defense”.

For most of the sport’s history it has been a traditionally underground practice. Only recently have promotions such as BKB made it a legal and professional sport in the UK. The company has successfully managed not only to legalize the sport but began its transition into the mainstream. For the brief period the sport has been legalised, BKB has managed to organize several bare knuckle boxing events in The O2 Arena.

One fighter who was part of the O2 Arena event is Brad Harris. He has been fighting bare knuckle for three years now, but has been into combat sports for much longer. “My love for the sport extends beyond the fight itself. To me it is about everything around the fight. It’s the preparation the tactical analysis of your opponent. If you don’t take everything into account the result could be terrible.”

Many people, such as Brad, point out that although bloody, the sport might be safer than traditional boxing. They argue that a fighter with a padded glove can hit much harder without breaking his arm or hand than one without gloves. This means that a bare knuckle fighter has a higher chance to hurt himself than his opponent. Brad also adds that “it definitely makes you more careful with your own punches. You don’t wanna hit a forehead with your bare hand.”

DJ Linderman fights Arnold Adams in the bare knuckle boxing championship

Another argument states that because the gloves in traditional boxing are padded they inflict much fewer cuts on their opponent’s face. However, the damage is transferred elsewhere - in the form of minor concussions. This means that a boxer might not seem harmed, while taking serious internal damage. On the other side bare knuckle punches leave cuts and lacerations on the skin of their opponent. This is damage that the ring side medical staff can easily stop a fight for.

Proponents of this view will often cite Luis Resto, who, illegally used unpadded gloves to give Billy Collins a hellacious 10-round beating that ultimately sent Collins into a debilitating depression that resulted in his suicide. What observers tend to forget is that not only were Resto’s hands tightly wrapped with tape and gauze, but a highly illegal and dangerous plaster-like substance was also later revealed to be found in the wraps, making his hands much more lethal than a bare-fist.

As for the business side of the sport, Brad is hopeful that it will enter the mainstream even quicker than expected. “In three to four years it will be hitting all the big arenas across the UK. In the US, I don’t know yet. If the money comes good you might still see me fighting in ten years.” In the United States bare knuckle boxing is only legal in the states of Wyoming and Mississippi.

Even though bare knuckle fighting has only been legal for few months now, regulated promotions are popping up in the USA. One American promotion, Bare Knuckle FC has already held its second event in three months. What is more, their roster has already featured former UFC middleweight champion Johny Hendricks, as well UFC veterans Charles Bennett, Chris Lytle and Chris Leben. “I’d love to get to them one day,” says Brad. “You see them UFC fighters coming in bare knuckle and you know they bring eyes with them. It is great for the business, you know.”

And still, at its core fighting with just your bare hands has deep roots into the UK’s underground world. Only a few years ago the sport was populated with brawlers with nothing better to do. Brad comments that there are a lot of different people who enter the sport for a variety of different reasons. “A lot of angry young men enter the ring,” says Brad. “You see that there is something beside the fight that is bothering them.

They say they are there to make some money but you can be sure that there is something more to it.”  Yet, he remains hopeful that as the sport evolves it will keep more people safe under a regulated fighting promotion, rather than brawling outside a bar on a Saturday night.

By Kristiyan Stefanov