Bare-knuckle boxing is an ancient practice that no one expected to make a comeback, but it has experienced a significant rise in popularity over the past decade. Bare-knuckle boxing is precisely what the name suggests: boxing without gloves.
It’s a raw, visceral, and traditionally more intense version of boxing that currently has the combat sports world buzzing.
The History Of Bare-Knuckle Boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing has been around for ages. It’s one of the oldest combat sports ever developed, going as far back as ancient Greece. Fast forward to 18th-century England, where bare-knuckle boxing enjoyed considerable popularity during the golden age of prizefighting.
Picture gritty, old-timer fighters trading punches in dimly lit rings in a smoke-filled venue packed with screaming fans. These weren’t the polished bare-knuckle boxing matches that are resurging today. Rules were minimal, and injuries were abundant.
The popularity of bare-knuckle boxing started dwindling in the late 19th century when the Marquess of Queensberry rules were introduced. The new rules mandated gloves and added stricter regulations for fights. Bare-knuckle boxing didn’t go down without a fight, though; it lingered in underground venues for over a century.
Bare-knuckle boxing reemerged in 2018 when the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) was launched. Unlike earlier versions of bare-knuckle boxing matches, the new version was a regulated, sanctioned sport with clear rules. These rules didn’t stop the sport from enjoying massive popularity, bringing in big names from various combat sports like Conor McGregor.
Breaking Down The Return Of Bare-Knuckle Boxing
The recent resurgence of bare-knuckle boxing can be attributed to three key factors: nostalgia, entertainment value, and the opportunities it offers to combat sports athletes. Let’s explore each of these aspects in more detail.
1) Nostalgia
Bare-knuckle boxing taps into the raw, primal essence of combat. There’s no flashy gear to worry about, just two fighters whose wrists are covered with hand wraps, their fists, and a will to win.
It’s a refreshing throwback for fans disillusioned with the glitz of modern combat sports, where the best fighters don’t always face each other in their primes, as was the case with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. If both men had been born a few decades earlier, they probably would have fought at least three times, as past greats of previous eras like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier did.
2) High-Octane Entertainment
Bare-knuckle fights are as exciting as combat sports get. The rounds are shorter, typically two minutes, allowing for intense exchanges. Knockouts and bruises are frequent. Its unpredictability keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
3) Opportunities For Fighters
Bare-knuckle boxing has given retired MMA fighters, boxers, and brawlers opportunities to reignite their careers while creating matches that wouldn’t have been otherwise possible, like Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi.
Paulie, a winner of multiple boxing titles in his prime, and Lobov, an MMA journeyman, settled their beef under the bright lights of bare-knuckle boxing. Such fights wouldn’t be otherwise possible.
The Rules Of Modern Bare-Knuckle Boxing
Modern bare-knuckle boxing is a regulated sport where fighters compete in a circular ring called the “squared circle,” a term commonly used to refer to boxing rings. Some of the main rules of bare-knuckle fights include:
- No Gloves: Gloves aren’t allowed in bare-knuckle boxing, but fighters can use hand wraps to protect their wrists. However, their knuckles must remain uncovered.
- Clinching Is Allowed: Unlike traditional boxing rules, bare-knuckle contestants can clinch during fights and throw punches from their positions. It’s a throwback to the sport’s historical roots when dirty boxing was perfectly legal.
- Shorter Rounds: Most bare-knuckle fights consist of five two-minute rounds, allowing for a relentless pace.
- Required Safety Gear: Contestants must have groin protection, boxing trunks, wrestling/boxing shoes, and a mouthpiece.
- Strikes: Punches with a closed fist are the only strikes allowed in bare-knuckle boxing.
How Does Bare-Knuckle Boxing Compare To Gloved Boxing?
Bare-knuckle boxing isn’t just a version of boxing that forbids gloves; it’s an entirely different beast. Here’s how it stacks up to traditional boxing:
- Potential Risks: While hitting with uncovered knuckles carries some inherent risk, some fighters argue that it encourages more controlled punches, as they’re less likely to throw full-force haymakers, which could potentially strain their hands.
- Technique Over Power: Precision becomes more critical than power when you don’t have boxing gloves’ padding to protect your knuckles. This forces fighters to rely more on technique, accuracy, and strategy.
- Endurance Factor: The shorter rounds of bare-knuckle fights lead to more energetic fights.
What Can Martial Artists Learn From Bare-Knuckle Boxing?
Without gloves, fighters quickly learn that raw power isn’t always the best strategy—precision and control are key.
Bareknuckle boxing has much to offer martial artists looking to improve their fighting abilities. Some of the things you can learn from bare-knuckle boxers include:
- Realistic Representation of Real-Life Scenarios: Fighting bare-knuckle makes the reality of real fights clear since gloves aren’t used. Punching an adversary as hard as possible isn’t always the best strategy in self-defense situations since poor technique can lead to risks that hinder your ability to defend yourself. Keep that in mind the next time you’re blasting away at a heavy bag. The human head is much harder than that.
- Mental Toughness: These are no padded gloves to hide behind in bare-knuckle boxing. It pushes fighters to dig deep and embrace discomfort.
Consider trying bare-knuckle boxing even if your main goal is to compete in another combat sport. It’s an excellent way to gain fighting experience and familiarize yourself with discomfort, but it’s not for everyone. If your nerves don’t get rattled at the beginning of a bare-knuckle match, you’ll be just as calm when you fight under the bright lights of major promotions like ONE Championship.
The Future Of Bare-Knuckle Boxing And Comeback Chronicle
The resurgence of bare-knuckle boxing isn’t just a passing trend. Organizations like BKFC are gaining traction as the sport carves out a niche in the combat sports world.
Some critics argue that bare-knuckle boxing is too brutal, but fans argue that regulations and other safety measures in places make it no more dangerous than combat sports like conventional boxing, Muay Thai, or mixed martial arts.
However, bare-knuckle boxing will need to expand beyond the U.S.’s shores to tap into international markets where combat sports already have strong followings. The appeal of bare-knuckle will continue to rise as high-profile athletes from other combat sports join.
Bare-knuckle boxing’s recent resurgence is a testament to the enduring appeal of raw combat. There’s no denying its impact on the combat sports world right now.
You may also like:
