The Safety of Bare Knuckle Boxing

Kevin Kline isn’t just narrating this audiobook; he’s channeling the grit of a grizzled fight promoter mid-rant. His performance is a masterclass in tonal versatility—switching from dry, sardonic commentary when Armstrong dismantles the sport’s hyped safety measures to a low, gravelly intensity during firsthand fighter testimonies. The pacing is brisk, which works in the audiobook’s favor since Armstrong’s prose is so packed with revelations that a slower delivery would feel indulgent. My only critique is that some of the medical jargon about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) risks could’ve used a quick glossary in the liner notes—terms like ‘intracranial hemorrhage’ are thrown around without much context, leaving me scrambling to recall high school biology. That said, the audiobook’s brevity is its secret weapon; it never overstays its welcome, and Kline’s delivery ensures you’re invested from the first punch to the last. If you’re a combat sports fan tired of the same old glorified highlight reels, this is the gut-check you didn’t know you needed.