Frankies new 'Celtic Belts'

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 18 Aug 2004, 17:23

It would seem that the ever benevolent Uncle Frank has decided there arent enough belts available to boxers these days so hes introducing another one.. this time its the Celtic Belt.

The idea is this...

Apparently he's identified a problem in that boxers from Scotland, Ireland and Wales could only win titles 'nationally' by fighting other guys from their own areas for Scottish, Irish or Welsh titles. So in a blinding flash of inspiration Franie has hit up an idea of an elimination tourney which will feature top Scottish prospects coming up against the cream of Welsh and Irish boxers to kick the whole thing off the winners will then be awarded a Celtic Belt.

The first series of the new competition will see Ayrshire super-featherweight Andrew Fearns clash with Welsh 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and former amateur star Jamie Arthur. In the featherweight category Greenock boxer John Simpson meets Irishman Alex O’Hara while at lightweight Coatbridge based Martin Watson goes head to head with Ireland’s Mark Winter again, the two having controversially drawn in Belfast last year.

A venue for the bouts is scheduled to be announced at a press conference at Ingliston tomorrow.

I would suggest that anyone who sees this as a marketing ploy to sell more fights as 'championship boxing' is being very cynical indeed

mickeybeard · Post by **mickeybeard** » 18 Aug 2004, 18:35

Errrm, firstly: How are guys from Scotland Wales and Ireland only being able to win belts 'nationaly' different from fighters any where else in the world? National belt, then continental/regional, then world, if you go the old fashioned route. Does he mean that english fighters can progress though area titles and English titles before reaching British title level?

Secondly: speaking as a Celt, what about the Cornish and others of Celtic blood down here in the southwest, or our Celtic brothers in the Isle of Man or Brittany? You'd think that a man who's obviously as interested in supporting those of celtic ancestry as that nice Mr Warren (of course this isn't a marketing ploy

) would've done a bit of research. Must've been a mistake by some junior office member...

Thirdly: Bunch of arse.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 18 Aug 2004, 18:41

mickeybeard wrote:Errrm, firstly: How are guys from Scotland Wales and Ireland only being able to win belts 'nationaly' different from fighters any where else in the world? National belt, then continental/regional, then world, if you go the old fashioned route. Does he mean that english fighters can progress though area titles and English titles before reaching British title level?

Secondly: speaking as a Celt, what about the Cornish and others of Celtic blood down here in the southwest, or our Celtic brothers in the Isle of Man or Brittany? You'd think that a man who's obviously as interested in supporting those of celtic ancestry as that nice Mr Warren (of course this isn't a marketing ploy ) would've done a bit of research. Must've been a mistake by some junior office member...

Thirdly: Bunch of arse.

Well to be fair the 'national' bit was mine meaning in as much as if they want to be national champions ie Scottish champ or Welsh etc then they can only fight guys from their own country.
apparently now thanks to frankie that 'problem' has been solved at a stroke. amazing that no-one else has decided to try and solve this problem over the last 100 years or so

i did wonder about the brittany/cornish thing myself....but maybe in years to come some forward thinking promoter will decide to come up with a Devolved Scottish Welsh Irish Southern Celtic Cornish Brittany Regional Belt tourney leading to a round robin affair encompasing the holders of Northern English Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbourgh Belt, The Brummagan Leicester Nottinghamshire Black Country Belt, The Southern Anglo Saxon Norman Origin Belt and Ricky Hatton

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 19 Aug 2004, 04:16

Isn't this in the same week Warren derided the number of belts as the key reason fans are not tuning into to the sport.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 19 Aug 2004, 05:26

DavidPayne wrote:Isn't this in the same week Warren derided the number of belts as the key reason fans are not tuning into to the sport.

No. That was last week.