Bare-knuckle boxing

Bare-knuckle boxing
Irish-American fighter John L. Sullivan
Also known as
  • Classical pugilism
  • fisticuffs
  • fist fight
  • illegal boxing
  • prizefighting
Focus
Country of originEngland
Parenthood

Bare-knuckle boxing (also known as bare-knuckle or bare-knuckle fighting) is a full-contact combat sport based on punching without any form of padding on the hands. The sport as it is known today originated in 17th-century England and differs from street fighting as it follows an accepted set of rules.

The rules that provided the foundation for bare-knuckle boxing for much of the 18th and 19th centuries were the London Prize Ring Rules. By the late 19th century, professional boxing moved from bare-knuckle to using boxing gloves. The last major world heavyweight championship held under bare-knuckle boxing rules happened in 1889 and was held by John L. Sullivan.[1][2] The American National Police Gazette magazine was recognized as sanctioning the world championship titles.

Bare-knuckle boxing has seen a resurgence in the 21st century with English promoters such as Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) in Coventry[3][4] and Ultimate Bare Knuckle Boxing (UBKB) in Warrington,[5] as well as American promoters Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Philadelphia and BYB Extreme (BYB) in Miami.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gazette_4-16-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference mastrofist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "About BKB". BKB World. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  4. ^ "Inside the brutal and bloody bare-knuckle boxing fights at Coventry Skydome". Coventry Live. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  5. ^ "Fight club, Manchester style: Inside the brutal world of bare knuckle boxing". Manchester Evening News. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2024-05-25.