Bare-knuckle boxing
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- See also bare-knuckle for other uses.
Bare-knuckle boxing (also known as bare-knuckle, prizefighting, 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 the following of rules, such as not striking a downed opponent, unlike a "no-holds-barred" match.
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[edit] History
The first bareknuckle champion of England was James Figg who claimed the title in 1719 and held it until he retired in 1730.[1] Other noted champions were Jack Broughton, Daniel Mendoza, Jem Belcher, Hen Pearce, John Gully, Tom Cribb, Tom Spring, Jem Ward, James Burke, William 'Bendigo' Thompson, Ben Caunt, Tom Sayers and Jem Mace.[1]
The longest bareknuckle fight on record occurred in Melbourne, Australia, on October 19, 1856. James Kelly and Jack Smith fought for 6 hours 15 minutes. [2]
Jem Mace, the English champion, and Joe Coburn, onetime U.S. titleholder, fought a bareknuckles bout in New Orleans in 1870. The fight was billed as the fight of the century, but when the actual contest was held it went 3 hours 48 minutes and neither man struck a blow.[2]
Mace holds the record for the longest career of any professional fighter in history. He was in the ring for 35 years.[2]
Only one fighter has ever been knighted. Sir Dan Donnelly, champion of Ireland around 1815, received the singular honor.[2]
[edit] Notable bare-knuckle boxers
- Jem Belcher
- Simon Byrne
- Ben Caunt
- Gentleman Jim Corbett
- Tom Cribb
- Patrick Doherty
- James Figg
- Jem Mace
- Lenny McLean (often referred to as "Britain's hardest man")
- Micheal Gordon Petersen, better known as Charles Bronson (described as "Britain's worst prison inmate")
- Johnny Coyle
- Edward Tancl
- Daniel Mendoza
- Tom Molineaux
- John "Old Smoke" Morrissey (Defeated Sullivan for Title)
- Tom Sayers
- Roy Shaw
- Jem Smith
- John L. Sullivan (first heavyweight champion)
- William 'Bendigo' Thompson
- Bartley Gorman
- Carlos Sanchez (4x Champion)
- John Jackson bare knuckle boxing champ beat Mendoza
- Jem Ward
- William Perry "The Tipton Slasher"
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Bare Knuckle Champions of England. Retrieved on 17 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d Bare Knuckle Records
- 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
