Explaining the rules of Bare Knuckle Boxing

Bare Knuckle Boxing has been around for thousands of years and for most of the 21st century was subjected to use in underground fight clubs and gypsy culture where Bare Knuckle fighting was a way of life. Although viewed as a barbaric bloodsport, it actually made a mainstream comeback around the year 2020.

This was because certain US states sanctioned it as a legal sport. As a result, legitimate businesses started to spring up that would offer Bare Knuckle Boxing fights, and from there its popularity spread. Even if you personally view it as brutal, the fact is that BKB looks here to stay and has a fairly well-sized fanbase. So, if you’ve watched Bare Knuckle Boxing recently then you may want to know about the rules and regulations of how the fights work.

Although they may seem chaotic, Bare Knuckle bouts actually have similar rules to regular boxing. However, there are a few key differences which will be outlined below. It should also be noted that certain organizations may have different rule sets, in the same way specific MMA organizations can have their own rules when compared to one another. In fact, due to its different rules, BKB has risen in popularity and some even prefer watching it compared to conventional boxing.

Bare Knuckle knockdown and round length rules

Some Bare Knuckle Boxing promotions follow the typical 10 count, whereas others have an 18 second time limit instead. There’s not really much reason for this other than the sake of being a bit different. Also, in many Bare Knuckle promotions, there’s no ‘saved by the bell’. This means that if you’re knocked out then the bell is temporarily stopped to see if you will beat the count. Arguably, this is actually a fairer rule compared to regular boxing but it is also less or more exciting, whatever way you want to look at it.

Another difference with Bare Knuckle rules is that the rounds are sometimes different (again this depends on what company it’s under). For example, some will have 5 rounds which are only 2 minutes in length. This gives a different approach to strategy and how you’ll pace yourself during the fight.

However, in gypsy culture, there have been some amateur Bare Knuckle bouts that have been known to go on for longer than an hour. This is where the cliche comes from, that gypsies are notoriously tough and have endless stamina whilst fighting. Often, these bouts are won on who is mentally the toughest as much as physical prowess.

Bare Knuckle clinching rules

In traditional boxing, the clinch can look a bit cumbersome and is usually followed by an entanglement of gloves and arms. Here, boxers may sneak in the odd jab on their opponent’s ribs, but for the most part strikes aren’t done and the ref will usually disengage the boxers very quickly. This is a unique rule of Bare Knuckle Boxing that differentiates it from other forms of boxing.

For instance, here, fighters are allowed to box whilst in the clinch and can hold on for as long as possible. This is where the term ‘dirty boxing’ comes from, as it can look less technical than typical boxing styles, but is nonetheless an effective way to fight. Such is its popularity, it’s also used in MMA as well.

Bare Knuckle hand wrapping rules

Obviously, this is a big part of Bare Knuckle culture and is what sets it apart from regular boxing. Of course, the wrap should not cover the knuckles but you can have wraps around the top part of your hand towards your forearm, as well as your thumb and part of your wrist. In other words, you can’t have any material touching your knuckles otherwise it defeats the purpose. Similarly, you can’t box with gloves on either for the same reasons. The reason why boxers still wear wraps is that they still offer a functional purpose. This purpose is that it keeps your wrists stable when throwing punches and lessens the chance of breaking your wrists as a result.

Other Bare Knuckle Boxing rules

When fighting, fighters can only punch. You can’t kick or use submissions or do anything dirty such as biting. Also, during the clinch if there’s no action then like in regular boxing you’ll get taken apart from your opponent. This is to keep the action going. Like traditional boxing, you can’t strike downed opponents either which is the same here. Like boxing, fighters can wear boxing shoes, cups, and mouthguards too. With this said, many of the rules are actually pretty similar compared to regular boxing with the odd modification here and there. One thing that should also be mentioned is the amount of blood in Bare Knuckle Boxing.

As knuckles will usually cut much more than gloves due to the shape and pointed nature of knuckles, these blows will usually cut the opponent’s face much more often. This means they will naturally bleed much more than in a typical boxing match. If the blood is too much and the floor is too slippy, then the ref can call it a no contest. If the blood is also intruding on the boxer’s vision and they can’t see, then the match may also be called off with a loss to the fighter with blood in their eye. These calls are mostly up to the ref, and they’re also pretty rare scenarios too but can and do happen.

Conclusion

Overall, Bare Knuckle Boxing has quite a few things in common with regular boxing. Obviously, Bare Knuckle was influenced by its gloved version over the years, so it makes sense that they have many similarities. They are also born from the same sport as well so it’s not like they’re completely different.

However, aside from the obvious difference in protective wraps and gloves being absent from the hands, there are a few key differences. These are round length, knock out rules, punches in the clinch, and a few other details too. Overall, it will be interesting to see how popular BKB becomes in the upcoming rules, based on its growing popularity as it enters the mainstream.

If you would like to learn more about the history of Bare Knuckle Boxing then check out this book here which goes into its history and culture.