When people ask me what the difference is between bare-knuckle boxing and gloved boxing, I always tell them this: bare-knuckle is real. It’s raw, it’s personal, and there’s nowhere to hide. I’ve done both—boxed with gloves and fought with my fists bare. There’s a respect for both, but make no mistake, bare-knuckle boxing is a different animal altogether.
It’s a Test of Character, Not Just Skill
I’ve seen slick boxers crumble after the first proper bare-knuckle punch lands. It’s not just about skill; it’s about grit. Bare-knuckle brings out the heart in a fighter. You have to dig deep and fight not just with your fists but with everything you’ve got inside. You bleed. You hurt. And you keep going.
When I was in the ring with some of the toughest lads in the country, it wasn’t about who had the prettiest jab. It was about who could take the pain and dish it back out. That’s what separates bare-knuckle fighters from the rest. We don’t just box—we endure.
The Bond Between Fighters Is Stronger
Odd as it may sound, there’s a kind of respect that forms in a bare-knuckle fight that you don’t always see in gloved bouts. Maybe it’s because you’ve both risked more. When you look across the ring at another man willing to get in there with no gloves and no protection, you know you’re dealing with someone as committed—and as mad—as you are.
I’ve walked out of brutal fights with split lips, swollen knuckles, and a new mate. You earn respect the hard way in bare-knuckle. It’s not trash talk—it’s survival.
Final Thoughts
I’m proud to have been part of that world. And I’ll always say it: bare-knuckle boxing has something that gloved boxing doesn’t.
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Dave Radford is a former bare-knuckle boxing champion from Hemsworth, West Yorkshire. His career and legacy are featured in a documentary by Newmount Films exploring his dramatic life story.
