By James Bovington
President of the Bare-Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame Scott Burt was in the audience as two fighters who train at Al Osta’s Farsley gym competed on the annual Yorkshire bare knuckle show.
The event was staged at Elland Road’s Planet Ice Arena by Anglo-American promoter BKB and themed as ‘Pride and Punishment Leeds Brawl 2’.
Marshall Furey, 22, showed skill, courage and resilience as he drew his debut bare knuckle match with Nottingham’s Omari Grant.
“I enjoyed my fight,” said Furey. “I frequently had my opponent on the backfoot. My performance was well-paced. I came out of it pretty much unscathed and can’t wait to be back out. I relish the opportunity to prove what I’m made of. I come with an amateur record of 28 wins in 30 bouts.”
Furey lives in Swarcliffe with his wife and two young children.
“It’s worth crossing the city to train in Farsley with Al and his top amateurs and professionals like Scott. There were some cracking fights at Elland Road. I know that with continued quality coaching I’ll be able to fight at the highest level.”
Like Furey, Scott McHugh has two young children and like coach Osta also stages local shows open to boxers from West Leeds.
“Scott’s won his three bare knuckle bouts this year,” stated Osta.
“We’re particularly pleased that fighting at super welterweight he’s defeated the formidable Northern Irish fighter Joe Fitzpatrick with a second-round stoppage.
“Scott entered the trigon with about the highest level of conditioning and readiness possible. His determination to win came from the confidence and self-belief built up in training.”
McHugh had Northern Irish fighter Fitzpatrick against the ropes and the hyper vigilant referee stopped the contest after Fitzpatrick faced his second count allowing McHugh to take his 15th win in the 21 fights of his seven years as a bare-knuckle professional.
American visitor Scott Burt brought along the historic and prestigious Police Gazette belt worn in the ring by a victorious world champion bare knuckle fighter and which subsequently designates that fighter’s BKB status.
At the Leeds event that was American former professional boxer Paulie Malignaggi who defeated England’s Tyler Goodjohn by split decision.
“I was proud to present the Police Gazette Championship belt and offer high quality numbered event-unique medals to the winning fighters,” explained Burt.
“First presented in 1882 the belt is pure quality made of real silk, real sterling and with real diamonds and real history.”
Marshall Furey was suitably impressed. “I’ve just started out in this bare-knuckle game. I plan to wear that belt. Diamond studded. With support from people in what BKB describe as the ‘great fight city of Leeds,’ I’ll achieve my ambition.”
The show’s bucket collection raised £ 450 for Leeds children’s charity Candlelighters.
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