The Secret World of Bare-Knuckle Boxing

Published: April 24, 2024, 10 a.m.

Have you ever noticed the guy in a fighting stance on the Art of Manliness logo? That\u2019s not just some random symbol; it\u2019s an actual dude: John L. Sullivan, the greatest bare-knuckle boxer of the 19th century.\n\nWhile most people think bare-knuckle boxing came to an end during Sullivan\u2019s era, in fact, it never entirely went away. In his new book, Bare Knuckle: Bobby Gunn, 73\u20130 Undefeated. A Dad. A Dream. A Fight Like You\u2019ve Never Seen, Stayton Bonner charts bare-knuckle boxing\u2019s rise, fall, and resurgence, as well as the improbable story of its modern chapter\u2019s winningest champion. Today on the show, Stayton describes bare-knuckle boxing\u2019s incredible popularity a century ago, and why gloved boxing took its place while bare-knuckle got pushed into a shadowy, illicit underground. Stayton takes us into that secret circuit which still exists today, revealing the dark, sweaty basements and bars where modern bare-knuckle fights take place and the ancient code of honor that structures them. And Stayton introduces us to a dominant figure in that world, Bobby Gunn, an undefeated bare-knuckle fighter who combines a love of faith, family, and fighting and has helped turn bare-knuckle boxing into what is now the world\u2019s fastest-growing combat sport.