the LONSDALE BELT lost it's worth, WHEN?

[jimglen]

Hey guys, anyone know when the British title, namely the LONSDALE BELT lost it's worth and value, both as an actual 'prize' of boxing and 'credibilty' as a title?

I'm lead to believe sometime in the 50s...

[raylawpc]

Hey guys, anyone know when the British title, namely the LONSDALE BELT lost it's worth and value, both as an actual 'prize' of boxing and 'credibilty' as a title?

I'm lead to believe sometime in the 50s...

I wasn't aware that the belt had lost its "credibility" or value as a prize. It signifies the British champion. A British champion has to successfully defend his title twice in order to keep it; otherwise, it passes to the next champion.

They've been awarded since 1909, first by the National Sporting Club, and when the club went defunct, by the BBBC since the mid-1930s.

As far as its worth, I recall reading that Randy Turpin's belt was recently auctioned for £23,000.

[Ambling Alp]

Interest in it seemed to be greater many years ago. The 1950's may have been when interest declined.

[dempseyfire]

Basically I think it lost its prestige in the 50s and 60s when English fighters stopped achieving the level of world-wide success they did in the teens through World War II (for the most part, not everyone of course), as well as England as a country itself losing prestige on the world stage after World War II. Remember that for the 20th century until the 2nd World War, the British Empire, and not the U.S., was seen as the major superpower in the world.

[jimglen]

so what I've been led to believe is somewhat right then... I would like to know when it lost it's 'value', in other words cheapened in actual cost & worth, as it is nowhere near the quality of value it once was. Turpins belt is now in the region of £35-40K, but ofcourse that belt was 'still' one of the proper ones. I'm told that the original ones might be worth as much as £200K.

BTW raylaw, "the belt as a title" has devalued, it wasn't just a British champions belt. it was akin to a world title for many of it's holders, one of the most sought after prizes in the sport... I think that must have truely went hand in hand with the power and size of the empire. Outside the world title, top fighters from all over the globe (the empire), could qualify for it, Ausies, Canadians, S. Africans and others yet... though many would never get near it, as I remember reading about Fred Henneberry's annoyance & disgust with the board over McAvoys title and when the war broke out, rather than wait and see what was going down in Britain he fled th America for contender recognition and the Ring Title hopes.

but it is certain that the Lonsdale Belt at some point was 'less' significant and soon followed a lot less quality in it's design and ingredient, When anyone know for sure.

[bennie]

I think the Lonsdale Belt has actually gained in prestige in the current multi-title scene.

[raylawpc]

so what I've been led to believe is somewhat right then... I would like to know when it lost it's 'value', in other words cheapened in actual cost & worth, as it is nowhere near the quality of value it once was. Turpins belt is now in the region of £35-40K, but ofcourse that belt was 'still' one of the proper ones. I'm told that the original ones might be worth as much as £200K.

BTW raylaw, "the belt as a title" has devalued, it wasn't just a British champions belt. it was akin to a world title for many of it's holders, one of the most sought after prizes in the sport... I think that must have truely went hand in hand with the power and size of the empire. Outside the world title, top fighters from all over the globe (the empire), could qualify for it, Ausies, Canadians, S. Africans and others yet... though many would never get near it, as I remember reading about Fred Henneberry's annoyance & disgust with the board over McAvoys title and when the war broke out, rather than wait and see what was going down in Britain he fled th America for contender recognition and the Ring Title hopes.

but it is certain that the Lonsdale Belt at some point was 'less' significant and soon followed a lot less quality in it's design and ingredient, When anyone know for sure.

I guess I was incorrect. I thought that the British champion was a citizen of British Isles, and that Aussies, Canadians, etc. contended for the Commonwealth championship. Perhaps our friend British friend bennie can help us out with this.

As far as the value of the best itself, I understand that the original belts were 22k gold. The current version is a lesser carat value, nine or 10 if I recall correctly.

[bennie]

so what I've been led to believe is somewhat right then... I would like to know when it lost it's 'value', in other words cheapened in actual cost & worth, as it is nowhere near the quality of value it once was. Turpins belt is now in the region of £35-40K, but ofcourse that belt was 'still' one of the proper ones. I'm told that the original ones might be worth as much as £200K.

BTW raylaw, "the belt as a title" has devalued, it wasn't just a British champions belt. it was akin to a world title for many of it's holders, one of the most sought after prizes in the sport... I think that must have truely went hand in hand with the power and size of the empire. Outside the world title, top fighters from all over the globe (the empire), could qualify for it, Ausies, Canadians, S. Africans and others yet... though many would never get near it, as I remember reading about Fred Henneberry's annoyance & disgust with the board over McAvoys title and when the war broke out, rather than wait and see what was going down in Britain he fled th America for contender recognition and the Ring Title hopes.

but it is certain that the Lonsdale Belt at some point was 'less' significant and soon followed a lot less quality in it's design and ingredient, When anyone know for sure.

I guess I was incorrect. I thought that the British champion was a citizen of British Isles, and that Aussies, Canadians, etc. contended for the Commonwealth championship. Perhaps our friend British friend bennie can help us out with this.

As far as the value of the best itself, I understand that the original belts were 22k gold. The current version is a lesser carat value, nine or 10 if I recall correctly.

Yeah, I did see this thread, Ray. It explains why a South African, Ben Foord, was able to win the British heavyweight title before the war. I'm not sure quite why 'outside' fighters were eligible for the famed Lonsdale Belt. It does seem bizarre.

[bennie]

I stood close to Carl Froch quite recently when he was wearing his Lonsdale Belt. The TV lights were shining off the belt and it really is magnificent, truly magnificent.
I know Barry McGuigan regrets just missing out on the belt for life.

[housesecond]

I think the Lonsdale Belt has actually gained in prestige in the current multi-title scene.

I disagree, but only because the money avilable seems to have gone down in boxing for the British title. At the lower weights a boxer can get 20 grand to challenge for a spurious world title, but only 5ish to box for the British. I know which I'd choose, but when these guys have bills to pay....

[Ezzard]

When the IBO and WBO came about it became less of a must have.

Frank Bruno never winning one was a shame.

I think Bennie may have a point though. It's almost becoming more meaningful now when prospects avoid fighting for it and go for nonsense 'world' titles instead.

[Alex]

I think the value of the belt diminished in line with the popularity of the sport in Britain and the abundance of active professional boxers that once existed.

Before World War 2 winning a British title carried an enormous amount of prestige. In the twenties and thirties Britain had more active pros than at any time in history. Post 1944 the sport's popularity and its number of active practitioners, over the ensuing decades, dwindled.

In an era when a British champion was a household name, possessing a belt was perceived as a remarkable and enviable achievement, but in an age with far fewer active fighters and one in which the man on the street most probably couldn't name a single current British champion, to the general public it today carries little meaning or value.

[Crease]

Actually, I'm a friend of Hughie Russell... And he holds a Lonsdale Belt... Whenever we discuss today's current British boxing scene, he rarely talks about todays British champion (at any weight)...

I think Hughie himself would agree that the Lonsdale Belt is a great novelty, but hardly as credible or carry as much prestige than taht of days gone by.

[bollox]

Wasn't it 2 successful defences and the Lonsdale was yours to keep? That seems not a huge thing to achieve, 2 successful defences

[Alex]

Wasn't it 2 successful defences and the Lonsdale was yours to keep? That seems not a huge thing to achieve, 2 successful defences

Depends on the quality of the opposition in the era you're fighting.