Underground Bare Knuckle Boxing in the UK

Of all the forms of fighting known to man, one name strikes even more fear into the hearts of those who hear it with

bare

knuckle

s. For hundreds of years, the men of Britain have beaten each other's bodies with their

bare

fists to decide who was the toughest of them all. from noblemen to travellers, family men and gangsters being a bare

knuckle

fighter is something that sets you apart from the rest of society it is a completely British blood sport that gradually sank further into the criminal

underground

as the rest of society became more civilized is a sport of legend, honor and astonishing violence.

Knuckle fighting is a world that most people think they understand, but few have seen it. Now, several fighters and promoters are trying to bring it to the mainstream by creating the most anticipated knuckle fight in over 150 years. United States against Great Britain and wanted to know if the sport can ever truly emerge from its

underground

past. The common perception of Barle fighting is that only Irish Travelers and East Den Hard Men still practice it, but in reality there is still a thriving underground world. and fighters come from all walks of life and originate here in the UK.

I'm here in Hinley, just outside Leicester, to meet Andy Topliff. Now Andy runs a promotion company called B Bad Promotions and what he intends to do with that company is It's kind of bringing Bare Knuckle to the mainstream, it's a wrestling company that comes in frequently and I do it because I love the sport and I want the sport to be intrigued to know more about the history of Be Knuckle and why it now appears to be. We initially met in a patriotic pub on the outskirts of Leicester Andy, how are you doing? Well, yes, what is the history of knuckle fighting in England and Great Britain?

B. Knuckle fighting as a sport was absolutely categorically English, it was an English thing, uh, Europeans feared English men for their fighting ability. It is actually a British heritage. Benle wrestling is where

boxing

comes from, certainly in the 18th century, a very, very important sport, even the royal family would want to know who won, you know, if it were a big sport. fight, they were like today's superstars and what about your own background? How did you come to Ben Knle from a very young age? To be honest, you know I grew up in the traveling community, my hands are basically destroyed now.

You are deformed by that, obviously, in the ble world there has always been quite a lot of contributions with criminals, you know what I mean? I wanted to expel all that. I wanted it to disappear. Know. I decided to be bad and continue. as a proper sport. I really want to regulate it and generalize it. We started the first UK Belt for over 100 years and then I thought well one more step and we'll go for the Atlantic Belt which is a real historic event I always wanted you to meet an American come Jason Young this is the man who I dreamed of coming to this country we are making history with this guy who was here the last time an American was In this country, fighting for and over the 1863 British Champion is a big deal.

Jason had flown to the UK before the fight and had surrounded himself with some of the UK's most knowledgeable fighters, including former Bear Knal champion Paddy Monahan. famous for his friendship with Muhammad Ali three years it took us to get you here it's three years but I'm here no excuses no excuses and you're going to prove the guys wrong oh yeah but he couldn't hold out for long while he was at the retreat martial arts from Grandmaster Samuel of Wing Chung in Blackpool, a man who apparently once trained with Bruce Lee, Jason was clearly taking this fight very seriously, but although my own fighting experiences are pretty pathetic, I was intrigued to learn. a man who has been fighting since he was 10 years old james gypsy boy mccy from newcastle a living legend on the bare knuckle scene and the man who faced jason young in the atlantic title fight.

We met him at his local spot, a 50s-themed restaurant in the center of town, so what's good here? Everything is good, but the burgers are huge. The reason I come out is because the bird brings this here, just come out. You know what I mean? Actually, your nickname is Gypsy Boy, where is he? that comes from obviously I've traveled everything I've lived on the island and worked everywhere is being Irish a big part of your type of struggle Heritage yes I love it and I love going back there I love seeing M I love it I love spending time with family, honestly, I love sitting in the city like C watching TV, I'm big, soft, love me, family, you know, a lot of people, like you, treat me, they're full of steroids and all that crap, but I prefer to fill myself with Guinness and H. for food you know it's a much more fun way to go about my days being a gun model so don't worry anymore without a six pack I know what I'm saying you have a Kake that's all I have a full Kake and everything James, a self-proclaimed family man and sweetie, we were invited to his house to meet his lovely long-suffering girlfriend Leanne oh I love being a party and I'm the boy but then I'm bread but you know what I mean and I got a good girl and she has endured a lot of things, hopefully one day Mar, you know, what does she do?

She drives me crazy, yeah, hey, how? I'm CL, I just want a cut. I'm fine, Jim and I are very, very different. There couldn't be two more different people in terms of who we are, how we've lived our lives, the decisions we've made, how do you feel about him being considered a legend? I find it funny because it's James. he becomes a bad fan now which is pretty funny the person you see in likes fights on YouTube that's not him like I know he is but that's not the person I know I don't like to be honest with you when you come back from red day for fight his face was very bad there was blood on me like I cleaned them the next morning that's more annoying washing both times there's blood on it like it's just horrible it's not just about him having a fight it's the effect it can have on us when it comes to a couple building a certain fight, he's like a ticking time bomb last summer, we had a bit of a hard time and I thought you know this isn't working.

I'm far away, but I've never done it. I've seen someone fight as hard as he did to get me back. Having learned about the origins of Be Knuckle and spent time with some of the biggest names in the game, it was time to see it in person. Bbad was holding an event in Cowi Bay. In North Wales, the first fight between a pair of seemingly well-matched middleweights ended in seconds. The second and final fight of the night was something that will stay with me forever. Welcome Seth Jones, a 46-year-old local lawyer and lunatic known as the Bangal Hammer took on a man 20 years his junior only to go the distance in a fight that was as controversial as it was exciting.

The lawyer was bending the rules a little. Me when now, after what seemed like hours, they called it a tie. It seemed strange to see so much blood in what was supposedly a stalemate, but I couldn't tell a winner either. Seth seemed to have taken more abuse, but Aaron seemed exhausted, it was my first fight. I came forward when I saw a 13 stone fighter on the internet, how does it feel to fight someone who is 20 years older than you? Really do not care. I've had street fights with older people since I was young. You know, I mean, I used to get in trouble. fighting and all that, do you think it will make you a more peaceful person?

Yes, I'm peaceful anyway, but you're also having a lot of street fights. What was that kind of street fighting like when you were younger? 'Cause I used to hang around the wrong crowd, my genuine uh went too much now I know how it feels, I can control it a little more, I think in my next fight I held my left eye, they poked me, but I think so, it's a good result of both. I'm hard on that and how are you feeling right now? Hey, buzz, do you think you'll feel worse tomorrow morning? You know what I mean?

I've had worse things than this, yes, yes, how. How does it feel to fight against guys who are considerably younger than you, half my age and half your age? That's the nature of

boxing

. You know, I fought against guys older than me. I don't mind fighting younger guys. I don't care, I just like to fight. Do you fight in the streets? No, no, in those days. I used to get into a lot of fights when I was younger. I gained a bit of a reputation in the area. But it was a big mistake in my life to be a bit of a bully. being a bit of a drug smuggler to go to prison and then I realized you know this is not the life and then I decided to go back to school and study law during the time I had spent in the knuckles world so far.

I began to realize that sport had a kind of gravitational pull for lost souls. A lot of the guys we had talked to seemed to be people who made bad decisions in life and maybe bare-handedly found a way to use their talents, which they did. being in an area that normal society considers barbaric. However, I wondered if organized violence was a cure or a symptom for angry young people. James Lambert Hello friends, I'm James, the author of Be Happy in 24 Hours. He used to be a very unhappy person. violent person, bacle wrestler, bouncer and unlicensed boxer, and these are some of the tips and strategies that helped me change my life and literally become the happy person I am today, help society and be the coach happy to retire from the sport, the undefeated James Lambert. a complete turnaround from his life of violence and reinvented himself as a lifestyle and fitness coach calling himself Mr.

Happy, how long have you lived here? K, what has it been now? I think it'll be up to 2 years, we basically moved here for the peace and quiet and um, as you know, it can look as cold as a bag, it's very peaceful, we have super neighbors, did you want some sugar my friend? So were you always a fighter? There was always this fascination with fighting. I was an unhappy, angry and violent person, I went out into the world and lo and behold, I found other angry, violent and scared young people, you know, someone would catch my attention, I would catch theirs and a fight would ensue, it was that ridiculous. , can you remember your first ble fight?

Of course, mixed emotions even in this state because I was terrified. I used fear as a form of energy and transmuted it into positive energy that led to my victories, but again I found it very empty when I got home. I was still left with My problems not only outside but in my mind, like that, so the fight did nothing to make me happy and do you know other fighters who felt equally good? You see, this is what is never talked about, certainly not within that world. where emotion is immediately and very directly equated with weakness, a leopard can change its spots and that is very important because I hear it a lot and it is a mental virus and we accept things because it is said that they are not always true, we have to examine this and that's why I love you you can be a parent and your son or daughter could be going through difficulties never give up never give up your brother your son your friend could be an alcoholic a drug addict never give up people I have the power to change inherently in them.

I've done it myself, even when you win, it was a big pain, you know, my ribs could have been fractured or broken, you know, they always cut my face, but it was worse than that. The mental trauma was realizing again what I had done, the person I was becoming and it really affected me mentally. I think now, looking back, I became depressed. I guess there were thoughts, thoughts of self-harm, maybe thoughts, thoughts of, actually, you know if this. I don't really want to be, I don't want to be a part of this and um, that was really deeply disturbing to me and I felt terrible, so that was really nice, you know, nice. low night and um, I'd like to say it was the last one, but you know that happened a lot.

James had removed everything that would remind him of the part of his life as a violent young man, other than a punching bag that still hangs in the garage where he trains his clients, do you still hit the bag? Actually, I personally chose not to. I guess it was about 2 years ago when I decided to completely abstain from fighting and to me that is violence in words, thoughts and deeds, so for me right now. current part of my life I'm open to change it might change next week you know other people can keep it in check.

I'm afraid the anger wouldn't stay here and again but would seep into other aspects of my life, so I've just made a personal decision not to hit anything if you want for a while and, so far, I've been good at it. Work meeting. James is really surprising because you have a guy who was in the bare knuckle game. for years and he went undefeated, but somehow he feels a little ashamed and admits that he is haunted by his past and looking at what he does now it seems that all hisLife is this kind of struggle to put that into practice. in bed and seems to be winning that fight admirably and they miss out on something happy.

I guess it's a way to keep that in check, but behind that Mr. Happy Persona you see flashes of the old James, this kind of machine he used to render. unconscious men like he said, but he'll be the first to admit it and he says you know he hasn't conquered his demons yet, now in this kind of suburban life, he's maybe fighting the biggest battle of all, the first lockdown between the UK and the United States. There are only a few days left to fight in over 150 years, so we return to Newcastle to see James McCy, who is in the middle of his training preparations, wait, let all your opponents have a chance from the beginning, you know what do I mean?

So when you go out, is there some kind of routine? New Castle means a lot to us and Al does and we wear Min.Castle top and short bastard, where would you like to see the sport, maybe in 10 or 15 years? You know it will reach big Arenas, you know it, but I will be fine, maybe not, if the money comes, take good care of yourself. He may still be fighting in 15 years. It's all about the pressure, like that's all the pressure. The boys handle it. They thrive on pressure. Can you explain to me what it's like in the hole?

It's just like the three B's are here like this. Three B's here. like this and you're taking two steps, you know and in the center you're there, you know, it would be like fitting in with a job, waving my hand, you know what I mean, you like establishing your job, it's a good thing, you know? what I mean, so you understand what I mean and then obviously you're going to shake your head a little bit, you know what I would be trying to do if someone was working me, you know and then maybe com doing a little bit or come to the center, brings a body shot and honestly I'm very much with me with 10 to the jaw and a good one there, you know, because it really hurts the feeling when you get one of those there, um, I can.

I don't even describe it. It's the worst feeling in the world when you can't breathe. You have a mouth guard in your mouth. You try to spit it out but you can't because you can't breathe to breathe. power in your lungs to spit it out you're turning red you're starting to see little stars then you're going lower and lower towards the ground it's horrible it's all horrible eventually the hands will fall and then boom, yeah, night You know what I mean and If I want to knock you out and I'm looking for the chain around here, you haven't brought 14 to the pond, how then are you out?

Look, you mentioned earlier that you were drunk, you think? You could have a wake-up call. You know I've had good nights with a boxing and with a uh, if I wasn't so BR Dam, I could tell you the M. Are you worried it might affect your memories? of your family in those kind of important moments and what is probably really difficult, you know, I mean, I can remember the day my father died, I remember everything every second, but I can't remember much, otherwise, it might be hit by a Bush, you know that and I would have some memories so it's just a risk you have to take, isn't that why the title was on me?

You know MC is a Catholic lover, the Shamrock for your father in no Faith. I'm going. to have a scar in life, man, he just goes for it, no matter what, there are a lot more fighters out there and me, but I have the balls to make a difference, I don't just talk about it, you know, I because of me. I don't think Leon realizes how important this is in my life. You know he's great when you can take someone's best digs and you can give him your best. See, everything is better when spending time with James, what I really started to understand was this idea of ​​attractiveness.

I think a lot of us write it off as kind of a cliché, but really, looking at James and the way he conducts his life with this kind of very emotional attitude toward his father's death and his relationship with his family and what What he does is manage to channel that and bring it to the ring, he breaks all the clichés, I mean, he's not one of those guys who appear. Going by his undefeated record, he knows that he's been beaten multiple times and he literally takes it seriously and accepts it, and maybe he's the perfect fighter because he's fallible.

I love to fight. I am the Americans who come here from the other side of the Atlantic. I mean it's a big deal I don't think I'm going to lose that's not even on my mind he said you know that's not even an option for me you know I've been a fighter my whole life I feel like I'm the most skilled fighter I'm the most skilled fighter big. I really don't give a damn what anyone says because people will always have opinions, people will always doubt you. None of that matters. What matters is what happens in that well when it's me and him. and James, I'm so ready to go, it was the South London Bare Knuckle Extravaganza, the transatlantic showdown between the US and the UK, the biggest bare knuckle fight in recent history, two champions, one from the United States, one from the United Kingdom, will fight this Bel 1863, this belt, but before the title fight we were treated to some more tears in the preparation for the main event, it was a festival of physical abuse, blood, guts , Gloria, I want to see people fighting for it, be it knuckleball, it is the ultimate sport, yes, the ultimate, simply. enjoy watching go in there you know real punches and not around you know what I mean no grip F more or less you know they really go for violence and bl chance of getting seriously hurt it's a good buzz you know what I mean it's one of the best buzzes I've had, you know what I mean, it's up there on the set, mate, England is the home of bare knuckles, I think it's in the British blood, we all are, right?, you know what I mean, the rest. of the world Salt Lake City Utah I'm here for Jason the young machine gun USA Jason the young machine gun fighting for the Atlantic heavyweight title against UK champion James J Bo mccan I'm ready to kick his ass Jason was everything I expect an American fighter to be brash, long-winded and enormously patriotic.

He had even referred to himself as the bald eagle on a few occasions. Unfortunately, today's boxers are mostly just boxers. I bring a different style to me, it's natural, I disconnect everything else from the crowd. the noise, the cameras, everything and I just focus on my opponent right in the zone. I'm the first American to come here since 1863 and fight for the title, so there's a lot more pressure on him because I'm the unknown where I come from. The United States has a big advantage. It was 10:00 the scheduled time for the fight but James was still nowhere to be found.

Rumors were spreading through the crowd that he was refusing to come down. Some said he was in a taxi on the way to Newcastle. Others said he bottled it up. This didn't sound like the James I knew, but time was ticking and the success of the night depended on his appearance. Jason, who had been training for weeks, had become increasingly agitated, well, I don't know. I know what happened, he got stuck in Newcastle. I mean, we've known about this fight for a long time. I came from the United States. If I went back to the United States, I would have 100 friends who would come pick me up right away and bring me back. my butt down here, so I basically told him, you know, come down here.

It seemed like there were a lot of excuses with today's wrestlers in the past, someone would call someone out and you know if you're going to be disrespectful, you have to back it up. Upstairs people were beginning to lose hope and headed towards the exit it seemed likely that history would not be made tonight and suddenly as the Angel of the North lifted James McCy some heavier stones a few inches up to his beard and he was wearing a Newcastle T-shirt football had arrived with a slight BL appearance. He'd fallen asleep the entire taxi ride, but was he too tired and too full of Guinness to face the machine gun after weeks of training mind games and the threat of one of them not even showing up? the Atlantic title fight was about to begin we were here on the edge of History America versus the United Kingdom Toe to Toe with bare knuckles as the fist of the machine gun hit the wrestling gypsy boy it looked like the title might cross the Atlantic, but mcy had come up with ideas, he and did James McCy had ensured that Britain had won the bragging rights and the young men of his Entourage were back in Utah with their tails between their legs their victory marked a step towards the big It was time not only for Andy's company Top Cliff, but for Bare Knuckle as a sport and perhaps it had come closer to everyone's dream of becoming the UK's nastiest and most exciting blood sport.