Well, two particular fighter archetypes come to mind: The unarmed fighter and the brawler.
Unarmed fighter is basically a mix of fighter and monk. You get improved unarmed strike as a bonus feat and you can get the first feat in a style chain without meeting the prerequisites. You lose your access your martial weapon proficiency (basically get the same set as monk) as well as everything but light armor. Not a problem though, since there is a light magical armor, brawler armor, which is perfect for you since it can add +2 damage to each hit.
The brawler archetype is for more raw damage. Your weapons training changes so that you only get one group (close weapons, which is not a problem with this build), but it comes at an earlier level (3) and it gives you more extra damage than any other fighter. At level 3, you get +3 damage to each and every hit along with anything you get from Strength and other bonuses. This makes it a great dip for monks, who have the better unarmed strike to take advantage of this damage.
While you seem focused on unarmed strikes, maybe some weapons might open up your options for more damage without a monk dip (otherwise you are just using 1d3 attacks). Brass knuckles and the cestus are common choices for this kind of style. Both are simple weapons available to everyone and count as close weapons, which makes them great for brawlers. The cestus is somewhat like a boxing glove, but it leaves most of the fingers uncovered, and it has a metal bar covered in spikes over the knuckle area. It barely interferes with your hand outside of delicate operations like lock picking (and really, your a fighter...no loss). B
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If he fights for money in underground rings, maybe he should take some performance feats? Bare hands deal nonlethal damage, as well, so the Enforcer feat would definitely be useful.
You could also justify Ranger. A pair of fists counts as TWF Style, and Favored Enemy (Human) would be a great boon against his most common opponents.
There's a Cavalier order that grants you a flat +2 damage to all nonlethal damage, as long as you honestly intend to subdue and not kill. Boxers are almost never looking to kill their opponents, so this would also be a good choice mechanically even though it'd be pretty hard to explain flavor-wise. Also what would you do with the horse?
I'd probably mix-and-match. A little Monk/Martial Artist, a little Fighter for bonus feats, a little Barbarian ...
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All that multiclassing would give you pretty righteous saving throws, but not much else. The best things about Barbarian and Monk (Rage, Monk AC bonus, increased damage dice on your fists) scales with level. Fighter is a pretty easy multiclass, but your Weapon Training won't scale.
If you want to mix and match, I do recommend getting out of Ranger before you hit level 4, that way you don't have to worry about spells and an animal companion getting in the way of your mental image of a bare-knuckle boxer.
I second Fighter (Brawler) for a bare knuckle boxer. I don't particularly care for Fighter (Unarmed) but that's just my taste, not knocking it rules wise. The monk dip isn't needed but if you take it I would take at least two levels. That'll give you increased damage, better saves, and an extra bonus feat while only costing one point off your BAB. I would choose an archetype that gives up flurry of blows (flurry of maneuvers is awesome) and go with TWF if you want more attacks. But again, not needed. A Barbarian dip gives you a great "second wind" ability (and I think a rage power that increases unarmed). I also recommend Stunning Fist. It's great having that punch that can knock someone silly (when it works)!
Now if you want UFC fighter, then Monk (Tetori).
i'd say 2-3 levels in (MoMS) monk to get style feats (and the ability to use more styles at once) and/or monastic legacy, then unarmed or brawler fighter the rest of the way. get brawling enchant on your light armor of choice and wear a monk's robe--the new cheaper amulet of mighty fists is also a great purchase to consider, as are dueling gloves iirc.
punch stuff all day long and surprisingly hard: 1d10 damage with 3 monk levels and monk's robes, plus your str mod (1.5x if you're using dragon style iirc), weapon training, brawling armor, gloves, and amulet bonuses.
styles to consider are the usual suspects (crane, snake, dragon, panther, monkey, etc.)
panther+dragon makes for a mobile free AoO smashy guy, snake+crane makes fighting defensively/combat expertise a sweet, sweet option, etc.
I'm trying to build a boxer/brawler type character for a friends upcoming game. Fights for money in underground rings, no rules, bare knuckle stuff.
I've got race down, Half-Orc, and originally I was just going to go with Monk, Martial Artist, but I've been looking around at Fighter and Barbarian and it seems like they might be good options too. Any ideas on if I should just go with straight Monk, or if I should mix together a few things.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Here you go. The build is Human rather than Half-Orc but its a very detailed and extremely potent unarmed melee character.
I appreciate all of the suggestions and the build that Damocles linked, but I think I might have caused confusion with how I described the character.
In combat terms, what I'm wanting to do would be a lot of unarmed strikes and just as much grappling. Taking people down, keeping them there, and hammering on them. A pit-fighter.
I've been looking at Brutal Pugilist and Urban Barbarian to mix in with Martial Artist, and Brawler would be good but I like what both Monk and Barbarian brings to the character.
Then Monk (Tetori) or (Maneuver Master). Tetori if you want to grapple someone and make sure your grip is inescapable. Maneuver Master lets you fight and grapple (and make multiple grapple checks) in the same round. I would say Maneuver Master is better in my opinion.
Ah, unarmed fighter might be better then. It gives you DR while grappling with your opponent. It comes out to be half your fighter level.
if dipping, i'd say maneuver master monk for the free grapple on full attacks (and then unarmed fighter), if going full then tetori is an unarmed grapplan debuffan monstrosity (final embrace horror + shatter defenses is pretty mean, especially with a cruel AoMF for grappled+shaken+sickened along with your constrict attack shenanigans)
