Lee Selby Signs with BKB

@Erik makes some very good points last paragraph.

Factor also punch resistance going is half the reason a lot pack in the boxing beforehand. Younger and stronger guys even way,way less skilled if they land and are fit it bridges the talent gap to even ex class boxers, who believe the talent they possessed years before will be enough.

It was then but not now. Gavin for example turned up belly over shorts, looked like maybe he had cut weight late and first time he was landed on looked a bit shocked, rabbit in headlights.

 

A lot of good points being made. Just looking at the degale fight tho for example. Degale started fighting at ten years old. Ended up being taught by some of the best coaches in the country. Goes on to take olympic gold competing against the best in the world at amatuer level and eventually a world title etc at pro...training full time from young.

His opponent taught himself how to box in his twenties while in jail.

Its a bit like can anyone do this and start beating up ex world champions who have dedicated their whole life to it.

 

We know why the likes of Gavin, Degale and Selby are coming back to make a few quid with the mindset the opponents they are facing are of limited ability compared to what they were, but the reality of where they are now lost.

Bare Knuckle fighting you do need a good skillset, conditioning, fitness and durability. But it's a young mans sport, you are not going to have a long career in BKB, lacerations look bad but heal ok but it simply will take a lot out of anyone.

 

I'd love to see a prime top 10 boxer try their hand at bkb just to test and see if there really isn't much of a skill gap in the art of fighting...

Personally, I think some professionals have a lot of the core skills drilled out of them when they turn professional - footwork & angles being the most important change: amateur Vs pro is different, naturally. And as we all know there are/can be subtle differences between fighting and boxing. A good boxer isn't always a good fighter.

Hey, maybe we do overrate a boxer's ability to fight... Little ref protection, punches sting more and cut your face to hell, wrists, fists and knuckles get damaged during a fight that can sometimes stop you throwing with mean intent/full power, the ability to block, parry and take shots is much less without a glove, and so on.

Having watched some bkb it does look like the whole box and move/not get hit is discouraged. A battle of the wills is encouraged.

 

Someone should have told Frankie G this.. Got KO'd by a touch on the head....You don't play boxing is the old maxim.. Bareknuckle should carry the same... it's familiar but different and the faded ex pros are finding out the hard way.
I would like someone decent to cross over and see what happens though someone without millions of miles on the clock who can actually whack.

 

Go centuries back the core skill of a bare knuckle fighter isn't always about trying to hit with full power, it's about accuracy.

Striking anywhere around eyes for lacerations , orbital bone fractures, ear, nose, mouth for teeth and jaw damage and just above for cheekbone.

You can see from old paintings of the damage inflicted, really grotesque swellings. Different era war of attrition fights, scrappy, long and exhausting.

BKFC is 5 x 2 mins, so often fights I've seen, land early inflict some damage and you get control the better fighters certainly.

 

How sad it is to see old retired boxers who can't stay out of the spotlight.