Lonsdale Belt

Lonsdale Belt
First version of the 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, commonly known as the Lonsdale Belt, is the oldest championship belt in British professional boxing.[1] The 5th Earl of Lonsdale introduced the prize on behalf of the National Sporting Club (NSC), intending it to be awarded to British boxing champions. Arthur Frederick Bettinson, manager of the NSC, introduced terms and conditions regarding the holding of the belt, which ensured its lasting prestige. Freddie Welsh earned the first Lonsdale Belt in 1909 after winning the NSC British Lightweight title. Heavyweight Henry Cooper was the first and only boxer to win three Lonsdale Belts. In 1929 the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) assumed responsibility for awarding the belt, which continues to be bestowed on British champions.

Only six boxers have won two Lonsdale belts each outright since 1934, which led to the BBBofC introducing more stringent rules of attainment in the 1980s and 1990s. The last winner of two belts was Clinton McKenzie in 1987. The Lonsdale belt is a coveted prize with great monetary and sentimental value, finding homes in private collections and museums, and has been auctioned for large sums of money. Belts have been stolen on numerous occasions, none of which have ever been found. Since 1909, only 161 boxers have won a Lonsdale belt outright across all weights. In 2013 the BBBofC in a move to acknowledge further the esteem held for outright Lonsdale belt winners introduced the Lonsdale Badge. Outright winners of the belt are now entitled to display this badge on their boxing shorts during bouts. In May 2023, Welsh boxer Lauren Price became the first female holder of the belt.

History

This image depicts the Original Challenge belt design, as described in Origin.
The original Challenge Belt design presented by the National Sporting Club 1909–1929

1909–1936: National Sporting Club

Lord Lonsdale was the first president of the National Sporting Club (NSC).[2] In 1909, he introduced the Lonsdale Belt—originally the Challenge Belt—as a new trophy for British boxing champions in each weight division.[3] A 9-carat or 22-carat gold belt composed of two heavy chains with a central enamel medallion depicting a boxing match, the centrepiece is flanked by enamel medallions showing single boxers and gold medallions with a scroll on which is inscribed the names of belt winners. The medallions are interspersed with smaller gold medallions depicting the Union Rose. The belts are backed with a red, white and blue ribbon.[4] The first belts were made in the Birmingham workshop of jewellers Mappin & Webb[5] The silversmiths and trophy makers Thomas Fattorini Ltd, were commissioned to make the belts in sterling silver in the early 1970s and have been making them since. The manufacturer and the date a belt was manufactured can be identified by the hallmark on the parts. Each portrait of Lord Lonsdale is uniquely hand painted in vitreous enamel.[6] A total of 22 Lonsdale belts were issued by the NSC; 20 were won outright.[3]

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 was required to defend his title within six months of a challenge. Minimum stake of £100 a side (£200 for heavyweights, £50 for flyweights)
  • The belt became the holder's property after three successful bouts held under the auspices of the NSC, consecutive or otherwise, or after it was held for three consecutive years. Outright winners would also receive an NSC pension of £50 a year from the age of 50.
  • The holder was required to pay a deposit and insurance for the belt.[7]

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

First holders of NSC Challenge belts
Champion Reign began Defeated Weight class
Wales Freddie Welsh 8 November 1909 Johnny Summers[9] Lightweight
Wales Tom Thomas 20 December 1909 Charlie Wilson[10] Middleweight
England Young Joseph 21 March 1910 Jack Goldswain[11] Welterweight
Wales Jim Driscoll 18 April 1910 Spike Robson[12] Featherweight
England Digger Stanley 17 October 1910 Joe Bowker[13] Bantamweight
England Billy Wells 24 April 1911 Iron Hague[14] Heavyweight
England Sid Smith 4 December 1911 Joe Wilson[15] Flyweight
England Dick Smith 9 March 1914 Dennis Haugh[16] Light-heavyweight

1936–present: British Boxing Board of Control

This image depicts the second version of the lonsdale belt, as described in British Board of Boxing Control. It is being aloft by [[George Groves]] after a successful title defence.
George Groves displays the Lonsdale belt presented by the BBBofC. Picture is changed to a portrait of Lord Lonsdale, replacing the two boxers in the original version.

The NSC became virtually defunct in 1929 and lost control of the sport to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), which started to issue the Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt in 1936.[17] Lonsdale consented to the use of his name and image on the belt in perpetuity; an image of his face remains on it. In 1939 the last 9-carat gold belt was launched by the BBBofC[17] and won by the lightweight Eric Boon that year.[18] The last 9-carat gold belt was won outright by Henry Cooper in 1959. Belts made from 1945 are composed of hallmarked silver and the laurel-leaf border has the thistle, daffodil and shamrock added to the extant rose to represent the four national flowers of the UK.[17] The belt was machine-made for a short time in the 1970s before the BBBofC decided to have it hand-made again, passing the contract to Thomas Fattorini Ltd, who continue to make the belts as of 2019. Each belt costs £14,000.[17]

First holders of the BBBofC Lonsdale Belt
Champion Reign Began Defeated Weight class
Scotland Benny Lynch 16 September 1936 Pat Palmer[19] Flyweight
Scotland Johnny McGrory 24 September 1936 Nel Tarleton[20] Featherweight
England Jimmy Walsh 19 October 1936 Harry Mizler[21] Lightweight
England Jock McAvoy 27 April 1937 Eddie Phillips[22] Light-heavyweight
England Johnny King 31 May 1937 Jackie Brown[23] Bantamweight
Wales Tommy Farr 15 March 1937 Ben Foord[9] Heavyweight
England Jock McAvoy 25 October 1937 Jack Hyams[22] Middleweight
Scotland Jake Kilrain 21 February 1938 Jack Lord[24] Welterweight

Female champion

On 6 May 2023, Welsh boxer Lauren Price won the first British women's title fight in boxing history, becoming the first female British welterweight champion and the first woman to receive a Lonsdale belt, by defeating Kirstie Bavington by unanimous points victory.[25][26][27]

Changes

In 1987, the BBBofC decided to award only one belt to any boxer in each division. A boxer can, however, win belts outright in different weight classes.[28]

On 1 September 1999 the BBBofC changed the criteria for winning a belt outright; boxers must now win four—rather than three—championship contests in the same weight division. The rule also stipulates that one of the four wins must be a mandatory contest. The BBBofC general secretary John Morris cited the rising costs of making the belts as the chief reason for the rule change.[29]

The BBBofC introduced the Lonsdale Badge in 2013; it is worn by outright winners. According to a Eurosport report:[30]

Brian Rose welcomes Lonsdale Badge on Eurosport
Outright winner of the Lonsdale Belt, Brian Rose, talks to Eurosport about the introduction of the Lonsdale Badge
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Donations and auctions

The Lonsdale belt won by Bombardier Billy Wells in 1911 is now kept at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, London, and is not on display to the general public.[31] Johnny Brown's Lonsdale Belt was donated to the Museum of London in 2010.[32] In November 2000 the belt awarded to Randy Turpin in 1956 was auctioned for £23,000 while in September 2011, the belt won by the welterweight Jack Hood in 1926 fetched £36,000. Hood, who died in 1992, had displayed his belt above the bar at the Bell public house, of which he was the licensee, in Tanworth-in-Arden .[33]

In 1993, Henry Cooper sold all three of his belts for £42,000 after losing heavily on the Lloyd's insurance market.[34] One of the belts—the last one made of gold—was sold for £22,000. The others sold for £10,000 each. Cooper was expecting £70,000 for the sale but was content they were all sold together.[34]

Theft

The belts have attracted targeted theft over the years. The first recorded in the media was Don Cockell's Lonsdale belt, which was stolen in 1952 from a glass cabinet at his home in London while he was out dancing. He did not own the £15,000 belt at the time, needing one more victory.[35] In 2007, after attending a training camp, Bobby Vanzie returned to his home to Bradford and discovered his belt had been stolen. Tara promoter Jack Doughty said in the Manchester Evening News: "This is the best belt a boxer can win. It is better than those for world title fights, gold plated with a portrait of Lord Lonsdale in the middle."[36]

Pat McAteer's belt was stolen from his son's home at Annapolis, Maryland, in 2012.[37] The boxer's son, also named Pat, told the Liverpool Echo that since his father's death he has only had the belt out once to show his nine-year-old nephew Will. "Will was like ‘wow’ when he saw ‘Pop Pop's’ belt. He was going to inherit the belt from me and he was to pass it to his son and so on, so it would stay in the McAteer family."[37] Jack Petersen's Lonsdale belt was stolen from his son's home in Burnham, Buckinghamshire in 2013. His son Robert, managing director of Cardiff PR firm Petersens, told Wales Online: "It's the family's crown jewels, a magnificent looking piece of art. It would be a terrible shame if it was melted down."[38]

Current holders of the BBBofC Lonsdale Belt

Champion Reign began Defeated Weight class
Wales Jay Harris 5 May 2023 Tommy Frank Flyweight
England Marcel Braithwaite 20 October 2023 Ijaz Ahmed Super flyweight
England Andrew Cain 20 July 2024 Ashley Lane Bantamweight
England Dennis McCann 16 March 2024 Brad Strand Super bantamweight
Scotland Nathaniel Collins 10 March 2023 James Beech Jnr Featherweight
England Reece Bellotti 10 February 2024 Liam Dillon Super featherweight
England Sam Noakes 10 February 2024 Lewis Sylvester Lightweight
England Dalton Smith 6 August 2022 Sam O’Maison Super lightweight
England Harry Scarff 18 November 2023 Ekow Essuman Welterweight
England Samuel Antwi 1 September 2023 Mason Cartwright Super welterweight
England Brad Pauls 20 July 2024 Nathan Heaney Middleweight
England Callum Simpson 3 August 2024 Zak Chelli Super middleweight
England Joshua Buatsi 3 February 2024 Dan Azeez Light heavyweight
EnglandCheavon Clarke 25 May 2024 Ellis Zorro Cruiserweight
England Fabio Wardley 26 November 2022 Nathan Gorman Heavyweight

Outright winners of Lonsdale belt

Key

This is a Statue of Jim Driscoll, who is the first ever winner of the Lonsdale belt
A statue of Jim Driscoll, first ever winner of the Lonsdale Belt, in Cardiff
Pat O'Keeffe. The first middleweight to win the Lonsdale belt. 1918.
Pat O'Keeffe was the first middleweight to win the Lonsdale Belt, in 1918.
*** Outright winner of 3 belts
** Outright winner of 2 belts
Henry Cooper in 1969. The only man to have ever won 3 lonsdale belts outright.
Henry Cooper is the only man to have ever won three Lonsdale Belts outright.
Lloyd Honeyghan. Went on to reign as the undisputed welterweight champion from 1986 to 1987; and held the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight titles twice between 1986 and 1989
Lloyd Honeyghan went on to reign as the undisputed welterweight champion from 1986 to 1987 and held the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight titles twice between 1986 and 1989.
Lennox Lewis. He went on to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and remains the last heavyweight to hold the undisputed title.
Lennox Lewis went on to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and remains the last heavyweight to hold the undisputed title.
Michael Gomez. Competed from 1995 to 2009. He was born to an Irish Traveller family in Longford, County Longford, Ireland
Michael Gomez competed from 1995 to 2009. He was born to an Irish Traveller family in Longford, County Longford, Ireland
Jamie Moore. Survived a murder attempt in Spain, 2014[1]
Jamie Moore survived a murder attempt in Spain in 2014[39]
Carl Martin Froch, MBE is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2014, and has since worked as a boxing analyst and commentator for Sky Sports.
Carl Froch competed from 2002 to 2014, and has since worked as a boxing analyst and commentator for Sky Sports.
Lee Selby. As of February 2019, Selby is ranked as the world's sixth best active lightweight by BoxRec.
As of February 2019, Lee Selby was ranked as the world's fourth best active lightweight by BoxRec.[40]


Champion Weight class Year achieved
Wales Jim Driscoll Featherweight 1910[41]
England Digger Stanley Bantamweight 1912[42]
Wales Freddie Welsh Lightweight 1912[43]
England Bombardier Billy Wells Heavyweight 1913[44]
Wales Johnny Basham Welterweight 1915[45]
England Joe Fox Bantamweight 1917[46]
Wales Jimmy Wilde Flyweight 1917[47]
Scotland Tancy Lee Featherweight 1917[48]
England Dick Smith Light-heavyweight 1918[49]
England Pat O'Keeffe Middleweight 1918[50]
Scotland Jim Higgins Bantamweight 1921[51]
England Johnny Brown Bantamweight 1925[52]
England Jack Hood Welterweight 1926[53]
England Len Harvey Middleweight 1930[54]
England Johnny Cuthbert Featherweight 1930[55]
England Jackie Brown Flyweight 1932[55]
England Dick Corbett Bantamweight 1934[56]
England Nel Tarleton** Featherweight 1934[57]
England Jock McAvoy Middleweight 1935[55]
Wales Jack Petersen Heavyweight 1935[58]
England Johnny King Bantamweight 1937[55]
England Eric Boon Lightweight 1939[59]
England Ernie Roderick Welterweight 1941[60]
Scotland Jackie Paterson Flyweight 1943[61]
England Nel Tarleton** Featherweight 1945[62]
England Billy Thompson Lightweight 1950[63]
England Ronnie Clayton** Featherweight 1950[64]
Scotland Peter Keenan** Bantamweight 1951[65]
England Ronnie Clayton** Featherweight 1953[66]
England Terry Allen Flyweight 1953[67]
England Wally Thom Welterweight 1954[68]
England Randolph Turpin Light-heavyweight 1956[69]
England Joe Lucy Lightweight 1956[70]
Scotland Peter Keenan** Bantamweight 1957[71]
England Pat McAteer Middleweight 1957[72]
Scotland Charlie Hill Featherweight 1958[73]
England Terry Downes Middleweight 1960[74]
Wales Brian Curvis** Welterweight 1961[75]
England Henry Cooper *** Heavyweight 1961[76]
Northern Ireland Freddie Gilroy Bantamweight 1962[77]
Wales Howard Winstone** Featherweight 1962[78]
Wales Howard Winstone** Featherweight 1963[79]
Scotland Chic Calderwood Light-heavyweight 1963[80]
Wales Brian Curvis** Welterweight 1964[81]
England Henry Cooper *** Heavyweight 1964[82]
Scotland Walter McGowan Flyweight 1966[83]
England Maurice Cullen Lightweight 1966[84]
England Henry Cooper *** Heavyweight 1967[31]
England Johnny Pritchett Middleweight 1967[85]
England Alan Rudkin Bantamweight 1969[86]
England Jimmy Anderson Super-featherweight 1969[87]
England Ralph Charles Welterweight 1971[88]
Scotland Ken Buchanan Lightweight 1973[89]
Scotland John McCluskey Flyweight 1974[90]
Scotland Evan Armstrong Featherweight 1974[91]
England Chris Finnegan Light-heavyweight 1975[92]
England Joey Singleton Super-lightweight 1975[93]
England Alan Minter Middleweight 1976[94]
England Maurice Hope Super-welterweight 1976[95]
Scotland Jim Watt Lightweight 1977[96]
England Jimmy Batten Super-welterweight 1978[97]
Jamaica Bunny Johnson Light-heavyweight 1979[98]
England Colin Powers Super-lightweight 1979[99]
Wales Johnny Owen Bantamweight 1979[100]
Saint Kitts and Nevis Pat Thomas Super-welterweight 1979[101]
England Kevin Finnegan Middleweight 1979[102]
JamaicaEngland Clinton McKenzie** Light-welterweight 1979[103]
England Pat Cowdell Featherweight 1980[104]
Saint Kitts and NevisEngland Roy Gumbs Middleweight 1982[105]
CuraçaoEnglandTom Collins Light-heavyweight 1983[106]
GuyanaEngland Dennis Andries Light-heavyweight 1984[107]
England George Feeney Lightweight 1984[108]
Northern Ireland Hugh Russell Bantamweight 1985[109]
England Cohn Jones Welterweight 1985[110]
JamaicaEngland Lloyd Honeyghan Welterweight 1985[111]
England Prince Rodney Super-welterweight 1985[112]
England Tony Willis Lightweight 1986[113]
Wales Robert Dickie Featherweight 1986[114]
JamaicaEngland Clinton McKenzie** Light-welterweight 1987[115]
JamaicaEngland Kirkland Laing Welterweight 1987[116]
England Lloyd Christie Super-lightweight 1987[117]
TunisiaEngland Charlie Magri Flyweight 1987[118]
England Tony Sibson Middleweight 1987[119]
England Horace Notice Heavyweight 1987[120]
England Herol Graham Middleweight 1988[121]
England Tony Wilson Light-heavyweight 1989[122]
Scotland Pat Clinton Flyweight 1989[123]
England Billy Hardy Bantamweight 1989[124]
England Paul Hodkinson Featherweight 1989[125]
England Johnny Nelson Cruiserweight 1990[126]
England Colin McMillan Featherweight 1991[127]
England John Doherty Super-featherweight 1991[128]
England Carl Crook Lightweight 1991[129]
England Andy Holligan Super-lightweight 1992[117]
Wales Robbie Regan Flyweight 1992[130]
EnglandCanada Lennox Lewis Heavyweight 1992[131]
England Andy Till Super-welterweight 1993[132]
England Crawford Ashley Light-heavyweight 1994[133]
England Sean Murphy Featherweight 1993[134]
England Neville Brown Middleweight 1994[135]
Scotland Drew Docherty Bantamweight 1994[136]
GhanaEngland Francis Ampofo Flyweight 1994[137]
England Billy Schwer Lightweight 1994[138]
England Robert McCracken Super-welterweight 1995[139]
England Ross Hale Super-lightweight 1995[140]
Northern Ireland Sam Storey Super-middleweight 1995[141]
England Delroy Bryan Welterweight 1995[142]
England Michael Ayers Lightweight 1995[143]
Wales Floyd Hazard Super-featherweight 1995[144]
England Terry Dunstan Cruiserweight 1996[145]
England Richie Wenton Super-bantamweight 1996[146]
England Ryan Rhodes Super-welterweight 1997[147]
England Paul Ingle Featherweight 1997[148]
England Ady Lewis Flyweight 1997[149]
England Ryan Rhodes Welterweight 1997[150]
England Geoff McCreesh Welterweight 1998[151]
England Jon Jo Irwin Featherweight 1998[152]
England Charles Shepherd Super-featherweight 1998[153]
England Michael Brodie Super-bantamweight 1998[154]
England David Starie Super-middleweight 1999[155]
England Ensley Bingham Super-welterweight 1999[156]
Republic of Ireland Derek Roche Welterweight 1999[157]
England Julius Francis Heavyweight 1999[158]
Republic of Ireland Michael Gomez Super-featherweight 2000[159]
England Bobby Vanzie Lightweight 2000[160]
JamaicaEngland Bruce Scott Cruiserweight 2001[161]
England Nicky Booth Bantamweight 2001[162]
England Michael Alldis Super-bantamweight 2002[163]
England Danny Williams Heavyweight 2002[164]
Guyana Howard Eastman Middleweight 2003[165]
Northern Ireland Neil Sinclair Welterweight 2003[166]
England Mark Hobson Cruiserweight 2004[167]
England David Barnes Welterweight 2004[168]
England Dazzo Williams Featherweight 2004[169]
England Jamie Moore Super-welterweight 2005[170]
England Junior Witter Super-lightweight 2005[171]
England Michael Hunter Super-bantamweight 2005[172]
England Matt Skelton Heavyweight 2005[173]
England Scott Dann Middleweight 2005[174]
Scotland Alex Arthur Super-featherweight 2005[175]
England Graham Earl Lightweight 2005[176]
England Carl Froch Super-middleweight 2006[177]
England Carl Johanneson Super-featherweight 2007[178]
ZimbabweEngland Ian Napa Bantamweight 2008[179]
England Kell Brook Welterweight 2009[180]
England Jason Booth Super-bantamweight 2009[181]
England John Murray Lightweight 2010[182]
Scotland John Simpson Featherweight 2010[183]
England Stuart Hall Bantamweight 2011[184]
England Brian Rose Super-welterweight 2012[185]
Wales Lee Selby Featherweight 2013[186]
England Frankie Gavin Welterweight 2013[187]
England Billy Joe Saunders Middleweight 2013[188]
England Jon-Lewis Dickinson Cruiserweight 2014[189]
England Bradley Skeete Welterweight 2016[190]
England Martin J. Ward Super-featherweight 2017[191]
England Ryan Walsh Featherweight 2017[192]
England Lewis Ritson Lightweight 2018[193]
PakistanScotland Kash Farooq Bantamweight 2019[194]
England Brad Foster Super-bantamweight 2020[195]
England Ekow Essuman Welterweight 2022[196]
England Dalton Smith Super-lightweight 2023[197]

See also

Bibliography

  • Harding, John (1994). Lonsdale's Belt: The Story of Boxing's Greatest Prize. London: Robson Books. ISBN 978-0-86051-846-4.
  • Golesworthy, Maurice (1988). Encyclopaedia of Boxing (Eighth Edition), Robert Hale Limited, ISBN 0-7090-3323-0

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