The 38-year-old American succumbed to his injuries a few weeks after his championship fight (symbol).
19 seconds. That's how long Justin Thornton's last fight lasted. 19 seconds that ended his life prematurely. The American died on Monday, just under seven weeks after a fight in a hospital.
On August 20, the 38-year-old athlete was knocked out in a bare knuckle fight by his opponent Dillon Cleckler with a right. The blow made Thornton face first on the ring floor. According to the American media, this caused, among other things, a neck compression and a spinal hematoma.
Thornton was immediately taken to a hospital, but has not been able to move his legs and arms since then. Further details have not yet been announced. “We join the rest of the martial arts community and offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” said David Feldman, President of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) on Twitter.
Bare Knuckle Fighting
Thornton's death rocked the martial arts scene and sparked further criticism of the sport. At the end of 2020, Thornton switched to the bare knuckle fighting scene after a 12-year mixed martial arts career. There is boxing without boxing gloves. The fighters only wear bandages, which is why serious injuries occur again and again. Since these bandages cannot protect the fists, ankles, head or body in any way, fighting in the bare knuckle is prohibited in many countries. It wasn't until 2018 that the first legal championship took place in the USA.
