Bare-knuckle boxing

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See also bare-knuckle for other uses.

Bare-knuckle boxing (also known as bare-knuckle or fisticuffs) is the original form of boxing closely related to ancient combat sports. It involves two individuals fighting without any boxing gloves or other form of padding on their hands. The difference between a streetfight and a bare-knuckle boxing match is that there are rules, such as not striking a downed opponent, that are followed instead unlike a "no holds barred" match.

History

The practice of Pygme Pyxci (Greek bare knuckle boxing) dates back to Ancient Greece. It is difficult to demonstrate a linear historical connection between the ancient Greek version of the sport and the revival of boxing in England (see below) but a documented, continual tradition of bare-fist fighting was present in Italy from AD 200 to 1800.

Specific standards for bare-fisted fighting began to form in the mid-18th century when Jack Broughton began to apply rules to make contests both safer and fairer, these rules were later adapted to give form the London Prize Ring rules. These rules dictated that a round ended when a fighter took a knee or was knocked down and failed to rise before the thirty count. There was no time limit, so the actual fight ended when a fighter could not get up before the count of ten or was unable to present himself to his opponent for the next round under his own power after thirty seconds of recovery. This was how a majority of these massive bouts ended. At the height of bare-knuckle's popularity in the mid-19th century, nightly fights lasting sixty to one hundred rounds or more were not uncommon.

By the 20th century, the practice had all but disappeared, replaced by its much more regulated descendant, modern gloved boxing governed by the Marquess of Queensberry rules. However, some underground bare-knuckle clubs still exist. Many small venues appeared in the late 1990s and early 2000s; many people cite the movie Fight Club as inspiration for this. In Germany there also is the possibility of informing the local public order office and fighting bare-knuckle supervised by the police.

Notable bare-knuckle boxers

• Simon Byrne
• Ben Caunt
• Tom Cribb
• Lenny McLean
• Daniel Mendoza
• Tom Molineaux
• Tom Sayers
• Roy Shaw
• John L. Sullivan (first heavyweight champion)
• William 'Bendigo' Thompson
• Bartley Gorman
• Carlos Sanchez (4x Champion)
• John Jackson bare knuckle boxing champ beat Mendoza

See also

• List of bare-knuckle boxers
• London Prize Ring rules

References

External links

• 30 year Bare-Knuckle Champ Macale Merton (video)

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Last updated on Monday March 10, 2008 at 14:20:19 PDT (GMT -0700)
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