The general strategy, and the viability of certain moves, changes a bit between gloved boxing and bareknuckle boxing. The difference is especially noteworthy when comparing the sport of gloved boxing in a ring, vs the art of bareknuckle boxing in the streets. Here are some of the key differences I’ve observed.
- KO risk, and value of opportunity for KO, is increased in the streets
- So we need to be cuter – more technically minded and intensely focused (for awareness, sharpness and explosiveness)
- Be sure to land the first shot, make full use of parries
- Intercept to enforce boundary, instead of shielding to survive (unless already dizzy or significantly injured etc)
- Don’t waste energy on point-scoring – make every shot meaningful
- So we need to be cuter – more technically minded and intensely focused (for awareness, sharpness and explosiveness)
- Cardio requirement is different in the streets – it’s generally:
- Heavily decreased due to quicker knockouts – shorter business end of the fight
- Slightly increased (and occasionally heavily increased) due to:
- Increased workrate per second, with higher focus and adrenaline, due to:
- More importance
- Multiple opponents
- Weapons
- Lack of rules generally
- Occasional long-lasting situations, with long build-ups and stand-offs, and back-to-back fights, etc
- Increased workrate per second, with higher focus and adrenaline, due to:
- When the gloves are off, both hands work together better, for simultaneous parry and counter, instead of one at a time.
- Shelling up or shielding with fists is less viable when gloves are off, especially in hooking range. Evasion and interception are far more important.
First written: ~2019
Last updated: February 2024