BoxRec

Fight Club: Ex-Mobster dreams of taking bare-knuckle boxing mainstream

THEY just threw out the first rule of “Fight Club.”

A real-life, underground fight club is trying to take bare-knuckle boxing mainstream, with hopes of turning it into a multibillion-dollar industry.

Danny Provenzano, an ex-mobster who reduced his 30-year sentence to five years after taking a plea deal, believes the sport can be as big as UFC.

“Bare-knuckle boxing requires a lot more skill than gloved boxing,” Provenzano said in an interview to the DailyMail. “You’ve got to make sure every punch counts, otherwise you’re going to break your hand.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/more-sports ... 7543017550

I'd fvcking love to setup a Fight Club in my work car park, but my colleagues always think I'm joking

Boxerbeetle wrote:I'd fvcking love to setup a Fight Club in my work car park, but my colleagues always think I'm joking

Would be a hit at the staff Christmas Party. Names into a hat. Draw your opponent's name out and punch the living daylights out of them in front of your workmates.

I think most of us have probably worked somewhere that punching a colleague or two in the face is a fantasy of (*insert name of any two sex symbols of your xhoice, in a threesome*) proportions. Still, that's what drinking too much after work on Friday is for.

Counter-puncher wrote:I think most of us have probably worked somewhere that punching a colleague or two in the face is a fantasy of (*insert name of any two sex symbols of your xhoice, in a threesome*) proportions. Still, that's what drinking too much after work on Friday is for.

The trick would be to mask it as some kind of charity fundraiser in order to shame the reluctant types - the ones you might really be looking forward to punching - to get involved.

I have heard lots of rumours that Bobby Gunns bare knuckle matches are fixed.

The clip in the video attached to that article did nothing to convince me otherwise.

At least when the travellers and gypsies over here have a square go it's on the level

I bet Enzo Macc would be willing to fight him again for the 100k they mentioned!

TerribleTerry wrote:I have heard lots of rumours that Bobby Gunns bare knuckle matches are fixed.

The clip in the video attached to that article did nothing to convince me otherwise.

At least when the travellers and gypsies over here have a square go it's on the level

Beware anything unregulated that involves gambling. What you see won't always be what you get.

The London Prize Ring Rules of the 19th century and pior, in essence, was illegalised for this very reason.... the element of crime involved in the sport... After all, for decades after its illegalisation, there was "mixed" bouts without gloves... All of which was perfectly legal... Because so many mobsters, thieves, and conmen were involved in LPR it was banned.

Only through Sullivan's touring of the world with MQ rules (along with Jem Mace's worldwide tours of the same rules) and professional settings for such matches (MSG, etc) was boxing allowed back into the mainstream.... It took a hell of a lot of work, dedication and promotion (along with quality fighters) to bring boxing back from the brink of death, because of such criminal elements involved.

It wasn't because it was so brutal it was outlawed. Or because people died reguarly. On the contrary, there were far less deaths associated with bare fists than with gloves and rounds. It was because of all the illegal gambling, fixed fights, and crimes committed in vicinities near the action. Pick pockets, murders, rapes, etc. happened quite frequently during LPR matches. Why? Because they were often held in fields, swamps, islands, etc. far from the constraints of the law.

Now... I'm in favor of bringing BKB back... but not in the way alot of these people want it. When the sport can be put into the hands of businessmen, and actual fight game promoters... then it can grow and prosper... But not in the hands of people like Provenzano and others. Btw, it must be noted, Provenzano is a movie director.... and knowing what I know, because I used to be on the inside of alot of these "fighters" and knew their business and did PR work for them.... it's all fake, all scripted. The fights often end on a body slap. The fighters are in reality wrestlers or actors or low caliber boxers and mma fighters looking to make some dough and they film it in a warehouse or gym or car lot, etc. and say its real.

The only real BKB fights I have seen take place happen over in Europe. But even those organisations are operated by men of low character and degree. But at least I have respect for them, because they do indeed have real matches where people actually do get knocked out and busted up.

It didn't take the mobsters long to switch their attention to MQ rules boxing.

So much of the white collar/ unlicensed/ semi pro stuff is fixed for the local hard nut/ ticket seller

Coco wrote:So much of the white collar/ unlicensed/ semi pro stuff is fixed for the local hard nut/ ticket seller

White collar boxing fixed? Surely not.