James is out to prove The Truth hurts in a bareknuckle classic

Connelly (right) and Nelson battle it out. Picture: Brooklyn Freeman

THE first big bareknuckle fight of 2025 features a former bank robber from Birmingham, writes MATT BOZEAT.

James “The Truth” Connelly decided he needed a career change after spending three years behind bars – and took up bareknuckle boxing.

It was a decision that has let him live his American Dream.

On Saturday, January 11, Connelly will be in Albuquerque New Mexico, for a repeat of 2023’s best battle.

Connelly and Lorawnt T “Smash’” Nelson fought out a five-round draw and the rematch is even bigger.

Nelson is recognised as the sport’s pound-for-pound number one after beating Barrie Jones in Cardiff in August – and Connelly believes that spot will be taken by one of the new Peaky Blinders.

The 38-year-old reckons Brummies are the hardest of the hard men.

Connelly said: “The steel works in Sheffield and the coal mines in Wales produce tough men, but put Birmingham against any other city in the country, man for man, and it would come out on top.

“We must be the new Peaky Blinders!

 “Birmingham is in the middle of the country and I think we feel surrounded and want to escape.

“This is a hungry city. People in Birmingham want more than they’ve got and that’s why some of them turn to crime.

Connelly and Nelson await the decision. The fought a draw in 2023

“They want to get more by any means necessary. 

“If you’re from Birmingham and you want more from life, bareknuckle boxing is a good option – but you need to be a bit crazy as well.

“You definitely need something wrong with you to do this. But what else can I do?

“I spent years in prison and when I came out I tried selling windows and worked in a hotel, but I didn’t fit in anywhere. This is my calling. I’ve always been a fighter.”

The youngest of nine, Connelly was expelled from school for fighting before he had even started.

“We had an induction day for Year Six that started at 9 o’clock and by 9.30 I had been expelled,” he said.

“I saw a lad from Year Nine who had been bullying one of my brothers, so I went up to him, grabbed him in a head lock and headbutted him.

“I was expelled and they only let me back in after I signed a contract saying I wouldn’t get into any more fights.

“I stayed in that school by the skin of my teeth. I was always fighting. I went through them all at my school. 

“If someone started an argument with me, I would just start throwing punches straight away. I didn’t realise that some of them just wanted an argument – not a fight.

“People love bareknuckle boxing because it’s raw and nitty gritty and there’s nowhere to hide. It’s like being back at school when everyone wants to know who the hardest is.” 

Connelly is up there with the hardest of them, but admitted: “It’s a dangerous sport. One punch can change your face forever.”