Why belts?

[zojo]

What is the history behind giving the boxing champion a belt?

Most sports give rings or trophies, but boxing has belts and always has. Why?

[zojo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Championship_belt

Golf used to have championship belts

[BoxBuzz]

Yeah, I say let's switch to "Championship Hats".

Whaddya say? Who's with me?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Mike Tyson once suggested fighters' rings.

[Jaywheel]

To hold trunks.

[BoxBuzz]

Championship suspenders maybe?

[Panzerfaust]

Ive read somewhere that in the early bare knuckle days they used to tie a band with their colours around their waist, and that it was usual to take the band of their beaten opponents.. From there i have drawn the conclusion that that Championship belts came from that custom. wasent Cribb the first to be given a championship belt?

[zojo]

[JC]

wasent Cribb the first to be given a championship belt?

Yes I believe it was the British Empire Western Area Interim Pewter Title.