The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in Belfast, New York, dedicated to the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. It is housed in barns that were once owned by the Greco-Roman wrestlingchampion and physical culture pioneer William Muldoon. The heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan, who fought in both bare-knuckled and gloved boxing contests, trained in these barns under Muldoon's guidance for his championship bout against Jake Kilrain in 1889.[1] The barns were originally across Main Street from their current location, on the grounds of the Belfast Catholic Church. They were bought, moved, and restored by Scott Burt when the church became no longer interested in maintaining them. Burt opened the Hall of Fame in 2009, when it had its first induction class.[2]
The Hall of Fame houses plaques and memorabilia associated with bare-knuckle boxers that have been inducted to the Hall of Fame, as well as exhibits devoted to the general history of bare-knuckle boxing. Each year's induction class includes bare-knuckle boxers from the classic era, modern bare-knuckle boxers, and honorary inductees. Trainers, promoters and other significant figures in the sport are also upon occasion inducted.[3][4]
The Hall of Fame also serves as a memorial to Sullivan's training camp with Muldoon, a number of relics of which have survived the lengthy period when the barns sat unused. These include his original work-out rings, a ceiling mount for Sullivan's heavy bag, the slatted area of flooring on which Sullivan stood for gravity showers after training, his original swing clubs and weights, and the "room of repose" in which Sullivan and Muldoon relaxed and discussed strategy in the evenings, which includes some of Muldoon's original furniture.[1] Sullivan and Muldoon's use of this training camp was documented by the celebrated reporter Nellie Bly, in an article she wrote for the New York World.[5]
Inductees
The following are the inductees into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame as of 6 April 2018:[2][6][7]
Original Inductees
Original inductees are required to have boxed completely bare-fisted (with no wraps) at some point in their career. These include living fighters and those that fought as early as the 18th century.
These must have brought positive spotlight to upstate New York or done a considerable service to the sport of Bare-knuckle boxing. Honorary inductees are those that have not bare knuckle boxed, that is, those listed as a 'boxer' have boxed with gloves or wraps, and inductees associated with ice hockey are inducted for their contributions to the fighting aspects of the game (to date, both hockey-related honorary inductees have been associated with the Buffalo Sabres, who play 66 miles (106km) from Belfast). The honorary inductees were included as an acknowledgement that bare-knuckle boxing ended as a mainstream sport over a century ago, and that the honorary inductee system allows notable figures that promoted activity similar to bare knuckle boxing, who might be more recognizable to modern audiences, to be included in the Hall.[8]
From 2011-2013 there was a breakfast in honour of a particular person each year, in 2011 this was Jack Green, Buffalo Ring 44 President. In 2012 the breakfast was in honour of Jeff Mengel, who had trained the fighter Jimmy Holmes in the barns in Belfast, New York. The 2013 breakfast was in honour of Zeke Wilson, author of the book The Eighth Round, combatant of prejudice in boxing and a noted boxer himself.[2]
Current Recognized Champions
With the introduction of modern day sanctioned bare knuckle boxing events both inside and outside of the United States, the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, in conjunction with the National Police Gazette, currently recognizes several individuals as World and American Bare Knuckle Boxing champions. The following individuals are recognized as the current champions.[9]
National Police Gazette Heavyweight World Championship
Weight limit: 265 lbs (120 kg)
Bobby Gunn was recognized as the Bare Knuckle Boxing lineal champion after his victory over Richie Steward in 2011. Sometime after this victory, Gunn was awarded the National Police Gazette Championship by the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame. He then cemented his lineal championship status as he defeated Irineu Beato Costa Jr at BKFC 1 in 2018 which did not appear to be a Police Gazette Championship title defense.[10]
The title was vacated on Nov 11, 2019 as Bobby Gunn was named Police Gazette Champion Emeritus, meaning he can challenge for the World title whenever he wants
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 14 Miami, Florida
November 13, 2020
1. def. Tyler Goodjohn at BKFC 18 on June 26, 20212. def. Dat Nguyen at BKFC 22 on November 12, 20213. def. Martin Brown at BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 on February 19, 2022
The title was vacated on November 14, 2022 for unknown reasons
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 6 Tampa, Florida
June 22, 2019
The title was changed to World Championship
National Police Gazette British Championship
No.
Name
Event
Date
Defenses
1
Matt Hodgson def. Lawrence Tracey
BKB 24 London, UK
January 22, 2022
National Police Gazette Women's 155-lb World Championship
Weight limit: 155 lbs (70 kg)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Defenses
1
Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber
BYB 12: London Brawl London, England
October 16, 2022
1. def. Jamie Driver at BYB 17 on May 13, 2023
National Police Gazette Women's 135-lb World Championship
Weight limit: 135 lbs (61 kg)
No.
Name
Event
Date
Defenses
1
Patricia Juarez def. Monica Medina
BYB X: Biloxi Brawl Biloxi, Mississippi
January 22, 2022
2
Monica Medina
BYB 20: Brawl on the Bayou Biloxi, Mississippi
September 16, 2023
3
Patricia Juarez
BYB 22: Rocky Mountain Brawl Denver, Colorado
December 2, 2023
National Police Gazette Women's 125-lb World Championship
Weight limit: 125 lbs (56 kg)
The inaugural champion, Bec Rawlings, was awarded the National Police Gazette Championship by the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame 3 days after her historic win over Alma Garcia. [11]
It was originally known as the National Police Gazette Women's Featherweight World Championship
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