User:Okeeffemarc/lonsdalebeltDraft

Lonsdale Belt
Awarded forBritish Boxing Champion
Sponsored byNational Sporting Club, British Boxing Board of Control
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byNational Sporting Club (1909–1929) BBBofC (1929–present)
First awarded8 November 1909
Websitewww.bbbofc.com

The Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt (originally known as the Challenge Belt, commonly known as the Lonsdale belt) is the oldest and longest running boxing championship belt in the UK. It was a boxing prize introduced by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale on behalf of the National Sporting Club, to be awarded to British boxing Champions. in 1929 the British Boxing Board of Control took responsibility for awarding this belt. It is still awarded to British champions today.

The National Sporting Club

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The Original Challenge Belt design presented by National Sporting Club 1909–1929

Origin

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Lord Lonsdale was the first president of the National Sporting Club (NSC).[1] In 1909, he introduced the Lonsdale Belt as a new trophy for the British boxing Champion at each weight division. A 9 or 22 carat gold belt comprising two heavy chains with a central enamel medallion depicting a boxing match; flanked by enamel medallions showing single boxers and gilt medallions inscribed with the names of the belt winners on a scroll, interspersed with smaller gilt medallions, depicting the Union Rose. All backed with a red, white and blue ribbon.[2] The belts were made by London jewellers Mappin and Web at their Birmingham workshop.[3] A total of 22 Lonsdale belts were issued by the NSC, and of these 20 were won outright.

The manager of the NSC; Arthur Frederick Bettinson published details about the terms and conditions of holding the belt agreed by the NSC in Sporting Life on 22 December 1909. The main rules were:

  • The holder must defend his title with in 6 months of a challenge.
  • The belt becomes the holder's absolute property after 3 successful bouts, consecutive or otherwise, or is held for 3 consecutive years. They will also receive an NSC pension of £50 a year from the age of 50.
  • The Holder must pay a deposit and insurance for the belt.[4]

The first recipient of this belt was Freddie Welsh, who defeated Johnny Summers for the NSC British Lightweight title 8 November 1909.[5]

First holders of NSC Challenge belts

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Weight class Reign began Champion Defeated
Lightweight 8 November 1909  Freddie Welsh Johnny Summers[6]
Middleweight 20 December 1909  Tom Thomas Charlie Wilson[7]
Welterweight 21 March 1910  Young Joseph Jack Goldswain[8]
Featherweight 18 April 1910  Jim Driscoll Spike Robson[9]
Bantamweight 17 October 1910  Digger Stanley Joe Bowker[10]
Heavyweight 24 April 1911  Billy Wells Iron Hague[11]
Flywieght 4 December 1911  Sid Smith Joe Wilson[12]
Light-heavyweight 9 March 1914   Dick Smith Dennis Haugh[13]

The British Boxing Board of Control

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Lonsdale belt presented by the B.B.B.of.C. Picture is changed to a portrait of Lord Lonsdale, replacing the 2 boxers in the original version.

The NSC became virtually defunct in the early 1930s and lost control of the sport to the British Boxing Board of Control (B.B.B.of.C), who started to issue the second version, called the Lonsdale belt in 1936.[14] Lonsdale consented to the use of his name and image on the belt in perpetuity, so his face has ever since been on the belt. In 1939 the last nine carat gold belt was launched by the B.B.B.of.C.[14] This was won by the lightweight Eric Boon that year.[15] The last nine carat gold belt won outright was by Henry Cooper in 1959. From 1945 onwards the belts were made of hallmarked silver and the laurel leaf border had the thistle, daffodil and shamrock added to the already present rose, to represent the 4 symbols of the UK.[14] The belt was machine made for a short time in the 1970's before the B.B.B.of.C decided to have it hand made again, passing the contract to Fatorinis, who continue to make the belt's today. The cost of each belt is £14,000.[14]

First holders of the B.B.B.of.C. Lonsdale belt

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Weight class Reign Began Champion Defeated
Flyweight 16 September 1936  Benny Lynch Pat Palmer[16]
Featherweight 24 September 1936  Johnny McGrory Nel Tarleton[17]
Lightweight 19 October 1936   Jimmy Walsh Harry Mizler[18]
Light-heavyweight 27 April 1937  Jock McAvoy Eddie Phillips[19]
Bantamweight 31 May 1937  Johnny King Jackie Brown[20]
Heavyweight 15 March 1937  Tommy Farr Ben Foord [6]
Middleweight 25 October 1937  Jock McAvoy Jack Hyams[19]
Welterweight 21 February 1938   Jake Kilrain Jack Lord[21]

Current holders of the B.B.B.of.C Lonsdale belt

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Weight class Reign began Champion Defeated
Flyweight 14 May 2016   Andrew Selby Louis Norman[22]
Super Flyweight vacant
Bantamweight 1 July 2017   Josh Wale Jamie Wilson[23]
Super Bantamweight 13 May 2017   Thomas Patrick Ward James Dickens[24]
Featherweight 26 September 2015   Ryan Walsh Samir Mouneimne[25]
Super Featherweight vacant
Lightweight 7 October 2017   Lewis Ritson Robbie Barrett[26]
Light Welterweight 21 October 2017   Jack Catterall Tyrone Nurse[27]
Welterweight 5 March 2016   Bradley Skeete Sam Eggington[28]
Light Middleweight vacant
Middleweight 26 November 2016   Tommy Langford Sam Sheedy[29]
Super Middleweight vacant
Light Heavyweight 24 March 2018   Callum Johnson Frank Buglioni[30]
Cruiserweight 26 May 2017   Matty Askin Craig Kennedy[31]
Heavyweight 6 October 2017   Sam Sexton Gary Cornish[32]

Out of the ring

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Changes

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In 1987, the B.B.B.of.C decided not to award more than one belt in the same division to any fighter. However, a boxer can win belts outright in different weight classes.[33]

The B.B.B.of.C introduced the Lonsdale Badge in 2013. It is worn by outright winners. This an Excerpt from an article about the badge:

“The British Boxing Board of Control are happy to agree to honour all outright winners of the Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt by the introduction of this badge,” said Smith. “It is a wonderful achievement for any boxer to win a British Championship and any boxer who wins the belt outright has a special place in the sports history. “After the idea being suggested by Ross Thompson-Jenkins at Sky Sports and subsequent discussion between Melissa Anglesea of Suzi Wong Creations and myself, I am pleased that the idea has come to fruition and that all Lonsdale Belt outright winners, regardless of promoter, broadcaster and clothes manufacturer can wear the badge with pride.”
— Rose proud to be first bearer of 'Lonsdale Badge', Eurosport 18 April 2013[34]

Donations and auctions

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The Lonsdale Belt won by Bombardier Billy Wells in 1911 is now kept at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, South East London, and is not on display to the general public.[35] Johnny Brown's Lonsdale Belt was donated to the Museum of London in 2010.[36] In November 2000 the belt awarded to Randy Turpin in 1956 was auctioned for £23,000, while, in September 2011, that won by the welterweight Jack Hood in 1926, fetched £36,000. Hood, who died in 1992, had displayed the latter above the bar at the Bell public house in Tanworth-in-Arden of which he was the licensee.[37]

In 1993, Henry Cooper sold all 3 of his belts for £42,000 after losing heavily on Lloyd's insurance market. The first of the belts was the last one made of gold, this was sold for £22,000. The others sold for £10,000 each. Cooper was expecting £70,000 for the sale, but was content they all were all sold together.[38]

Thefts

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  • Don Cockell's Lonsdale belt was stolen from a glass cabinet at his home in 1952, whilst he was out dancing. He did not own the belt.[39]

List of outright winners

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Henry Cooper showing off 3 lonsdale belts. 1967

3 time outright winner of Lonsdale Belt

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  • (heavyweight) Henry Cooper (1967) - The only man ever to win three Lonsdale belts outright.[35]

2 time outright winner of Lonsdale Belt

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Weight class Champion Year achieved
Featherweight  Nel Tarleton 1945[43]
Featherweight  Ronnie Clayton 1953[44]
Bantamweight  Peter Keenan 1957[45]
Featherweight  Howard Winstone 1963[46]
Welterweight  Brian Curvis 1964[47]
Light-welterweight   Clinton McKenzie 1987[48]

Outright winners of Lonsdale Belt (Partial)

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Weight class Champion Year achieved
Featherweight  Jim Driscoll 1910[49]
Bantamweight  Digger Stanley 1912[50]
Lightweight  Freddie Welsh 1912[51]
Heavyweight  Bombardier Billy Wells 1913[52]
Flyweight  Jimmy Wilde 1917[53]
Middleweight  Pat O'Keeffe 1918[54]
Bantamweight  Jim Higgins 1921[55]
Bantamweight  Johnny Brown 1925[56]
Welterweight  Jack Hood 1926[57]
Heavyweight  Jack Petersen 1935[58]
Welterweight  Ernie Roderick 1941[59]
Flyweight  Jackie Paterson 1943[60]
light-heavyweight  Randolph Turpin 1956[61]
Middleweight  Pat McAteer 1957[62]
Featherweight  Charlie Hill 1958[63]
Lightweight  Maurice Cullen 1966[64]
Middleweight  Alan Minter 1976[65]
Lightweight  George Feeney 1984[66]
Bantamweight  Hugh Russell 1985[67]
Bantamweight  Billy Hardy 1989[68]
Flyweight  Robbie Regan 1992[69]
Heavyweight   Lennox Lewis 1992[70]
Welterweight  Delroy Bryan 1995[71]
Super-bantamweight  Richie Wenton 1996[72]
Welterweight  Ryan Rhodes 1997[73]
Super-welterweight  Ensley Bingham 1999[74]
Light-middleweight  Julius Francis 1999[75]
Super-featherweight  Michael Gomez 2000[76]
Lightweight  Bobby Vanzie 2000[77]
Heavyweight  Danny Williams 2002[78]
Welterweight  Neil Sinclair 2003[79]
Welterweight  David Barnes 2004[80]
Super-bantamweight  Michael Hunter 2005[81]
Heavyweight  Matt Skelton 2005[82]
Middleweight  Scott Dann 2005[83]
Super-middleweight  Carl Froch 2006[84]
Bantamweight   Ian Napa 2008[85]
Welterweight  Kell Brook 2009[86]
Lightweight  John Murray 2010[87]
Featherweight  John Simpson 2010[88]
Bantamweight  Stuart Hall 2011[89]
Light-middleweight  Brian Rose 2012[90]
Featherweight  Lee Selby 2013[91]
Welterweight  Frankie Gavin 2013[92]
Middleweight  Billy Joe Saunders 2014[93]
Featherweight  Ryan Walsh 2015[94]
Welterweight  Bradley Skeete 2016[95]

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Harding, John (1994). Lonsdale's Belt: The Story of Boxing's Greatest Prize. London: Robson Books. ISBN 0-86051-846-9.
  • Maurice Golesworthy (1988). Encyclopaedia of Boxing (Eighth Edition), Robert Hale Limited, ISBN 0-7090-3323-0

References

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