Irish-American bare-knuckle boxer John L. Sullivan
Also known as
Fisticuffs, Prizefighting, Classical Pugilism
Focus
Striking
Country of origin
England[1]
Creator
Unknown
Parenthood
Ancient Greek boxing, Street fighting
Bare-knuckle boxing (also known as bare-knuckle, prizefighting, fist fight or fisticuffs) is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports. It involves two individuals fighting without boxing gloves or other padding on their hands.
The difference between street fighting and a bare-knuckle boxing match is that the latter has an accepted set of rules, such as not striking a downed opponent.
Contents
1Early history
1.1Techniques
2Irish stand down
3Modern Bare Knuckle Combat
4Current titleholders
5See also
6References
7Sources
8Further reading
9External links
Early history
According to the boxing chronicle Pugilistica, the first newspaper report of a boxing match in England dates from 1681, when the Protestant Mercury stated: "Yesterday a match of boxing was performed before his Grace the Duke of Albemarle, between the Duke's footman and a butcher. The latter won the prize, as he hath done many before, being accounted, though but a little man, the best at that exercise in England."[2]
The first bare-knuckle champion of England was James Figg, who claimed the title in 1719 and held it until his retirement in 1730. Before Jack Broughton, the first idea of current boxing originated from James Figg, who is viewed as the organizer of cutting edge boxing. In 1719, he set up a 'pugilistic foundation' and charged himself as 'a professional in the Noble Science of Defense' to instruct boxers on the utilization of clench hands, sword, and quarterstaff. Noted champions were Jack Broughton, Elizabeth Wilkinson, Daniel Mendoza, Jem Belcher, Hen Pearce, John Gully, Tom Cribb, Tom Spring, Jem Ward, James Burke, William "Bendigo" Thompson, Ben Caunt, William Perry, Tom Sayers and Jem Mace.[3]
The record for the longest bare-knuckle fight is listed as 6 hours and 15 minutes for a match between James Kelly and Jonathan Smith, fought near Fiery Creek, Victoria, Australia, on December 3, 1855, when Smith gave in after 17 rounds.[4]
The bare-knuckle fighter Jem Mace is listed as having the longest professional career of any fighter in history.[5] He fought for more than 35 years into his 60s,[6] and recorded his last exhibition bout in 1909 at the age of 79.
Professional bare-knuckle boxing was never legal under any federal or state laws in the United States until Wyoming became the first to legalize on March 20, 2018. Prior to that date, the chief sanctioning organization for bare-knuckle boxing was the magazine National Police Gazette, which set up matches and issued championship belts throughout the 1880s. The Police Gazette sanctioned what is considered the last major bare-knuckle heavyweight world championship, between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain on July 8, 1889, with Sullivan emerging as the victor.[7][8] Since then, other claimants to being sanctioned bare-knuckle championship bouts include the August 5, 2011, match at Fort McDowell Casino on the Yavapai Nation reservation in Arizona. The Native American tribe sanctioned the bout between Rich Stewart of New Castle, Delaware and Bobby Gunn, with Gunn emerging as the victor.[9] Other noted champions were Tom Hyer, Yankee Sullivan, Nonpareil Dempsey, Tom Sharkey, Bob Fitzsimmons and John Morrissey.
Techniques
While boxing has always included punching, historically it also included grappling techniques like throws, arm locks, chokes as well as kicks. These techniques were banned during the several rule changes which turned classical pugilism, or bare knuckle boxing, into the modern sport of boxing.[10]
Irish stand down
"Irish stand down" is a type of traditional bare knuckle fighting where the aspect of maneuvering around the ring is removed, leaving only the less nuanced aspects of punching and "taking" punches. This form of combat was popular in Irish American ghettos in the United States in the late 19th century but was eclipsed in the Irish American community first by bare knuckle boxing and then later by regulation boxing. The Irish stand down is also known as strap fighting or toe to toe.[citation needed]
Modern Bare Knuckle Combat
Modern Bareknuckle Combat, a contemporary form of bare-knuckle boxing, exists on a small scale worldwide.
In the United States, publicly ticketed events started in the 1990s. There are currently several UK promotions successfully conducting shows including BKB™, UBKB,and Barefist.
Modern bouts have several changes from traditional gloved boxing rules. Notably, there is a 20-second count on any knockdown and the fights consist of 3x2 minute rounds (5x2/7x2 on title fights).
Current titleholders
Weight class
Holder
Heavyweight
Mick Terrill
Cruiserweight
Marko Martinjack
Middleweight
Jimmy Sweeney
Lightweight
Sean George
See also
List of bare-knuckle boxers
List of bare-knuckle lightweight champions
Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame
London Prize Ring rules
Russian fist fighting
Burmese bareknuckle boxing
References
^Ollhoff, Jim (2008). Martial Arts Around the Globe (The World of Martial Arts). Abdo Group. pp. 20-21. ISBN 978-1-59928-979-3
^Miles, Henry Downes (1906). Pugilistica: the history of British boxing containing lives of the most celebrated pugilists. Edinburgh,: J. Grant. pp. vii.
^The Bare Knuckle Champions of England, retrieved April 17, 2009
^"The Victoria Ring", Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer, December 22, 1855
^"Synonyms Thesaurus With Definitions and Antonyms". trivia-library.com.
^James B. Roberts, Alexander G. Skutt, The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book
^National Police Gazette, 16 Apr 2018, p.
^Mastro, Tim (August 13, 2011), "Fistful of Danger", The News Journal
^Woods, Michael (August 17, 2011). "Reviving a bygone, bare-knuckle era". ESPN. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
^Lawson, Kirk (June 3, 2011). Banned from Boxing - The forgotten grappling techniques of Classic Pugilism. lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-257-14024-4.
Sources
The Outsiders – Exposing the Secretive World of Ireland's Travellers Chapters 4 and 5 (ISBN 978-1-903582-67-1) by Eamon Dillon, published Nov 2006 by Merlin Publishing
Further reading
David Snowdon, Writing the Prizefight: Pierce Egan's Boxiana World (2013)
External links
Interview with bare knuckle boxer from the 1950s
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (USA-based organization)
Bare Knuckle Boxing (UK-based organization)
World Bareknuckle Boxing Association (USA-based organization)
A site dedicated to teaching Historical Bare Knuckle Boxing
Covert transmission of hepatitis C virus during bloody fisticuffs.
Bourlière M, Halfon P, Quentin Y, David P, Mengotti C, Portal I, Khiri H, Benali S, Perrier H, Boustière C, Jullien M, Lambot G.
Gastroenterology. 2000 Aug;119(2)507-11.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted primarily through direct percutaneous exposure to infected blood. Sporadic HCV cases exist and may represent more than 10% of HCV transmission. We report the first case of documented transmission of HCV during a fight from a person who unknowingly had chronic H
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