Bare knuckle fighting is an ancient gypsy and traveller tradition and many of today's
gypsy/traveller boxers come from a long line of bare knuckle fighters. Living a life
that can be challenging and tough, gypsy/travelling men had to look after themselves
from an early age. Probably the most famous of the old time 19 century gypsy
bare knuckle fighters was Gypsy Jack Cooper, who was transported to Australia.
he later won his freedom and was reported to have died in Tasmania aged 105,
which would have made him the longest lived fighter of all time!
