Britain's 7 world heavyweight champions?

[oliverfennell]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

[THE MESSIAH]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

I think so.

[mkirkhope]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

I'm pretty sure there is only 6 - surely you'd have to count Bentt as American.

[yiddo14]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

[earsjohn]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

Please tell me you are talking about joke titles and not anything to do with Lennox not being British.

[freddydoesdallas]

Big Aud was WBF

[Craig14]

Big Aud was WBF

so was Johnny Nelson. and WBU champion.

[Old bones Ian]

Big Aud was WBF

so was Johnny Nelson. and WBU champion.

that was different WBF's . Nelson was Federation and Harrison was Foundation. How sad is it that i know that.
Also Skelton was WBU.

I'll get my anorak

[jameswilson]

Danny Williams was due to fight for the gbf title too. If only it had come off he might have got the credit he deserves.

[yiddo14]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

Please tell me you are talking about joke titles and not anything to do with Lennox not being British.

Joke titles.

The WBO has a bit more respectability thesedays of course, but back when Akinwande, Hide and Benntt were the owners I don't think it can be counted.

[funso banjo baby]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

in 'reality' its much less

[T.M.K]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

in 'reality' its much less

Well there's a good argument we have never had any!

The only two who won the TRUE heavyweight title were both born here but raised elsewhere:

1) Fitzsimmons - you could argue he was Australasian when winning the title - plus he was US citizen soon aftre (I think).

2) Lennox Lewis: British-Canadian-Jamaican - always a good topic for debate.

We can say that Bruno, Bentt (a duel-citizen of the UK and USA, bprn here but raised there), Hide (born in Nigeria), Akinwande (also born in Nigeria) and Haye were all belt-holders but never the real champion.... (let alone Nelson, Skelton and Harrison's belts).

At worst we have none, in reality we have two - for arguments sake you can get the number to 7.

Crazy world.

Col/T.M.K

[earsjohn]

I'm certain Bentt was counted as 1 of the 7. I remember the adverts for his fight with Hide...two brits facing off etc.

In reality, we have only had 4.

in 'reality' its much less

Well there's a good argument we have never had any!

The only two who won the TRUE heavyweight title were both born here but raised elsewhere:

1) Fitzsimmons - you could argue he was Australasian when winning the title - plus he was US citizen soon aftre (I think).

2) Lennox Lewis: British-Canadian-Jamaican - always a good topic for debate.

We can say that Bruno, Bentt (a duel-citizen of the UK and USA, bprn here but raised there), Hide (born in Nigeria), Akinwande (also born in Nigeria) and Haye were all belt-holders but never the real champion.... (let alone Nelson, Skelton and Harrison's belts).

At worst we have none, in reality we have two - for arguments sake you can get the number to 7.

Crazy world.

Col/T.M.K

No debate.

Born in England to immigrant Jamaican parents. Moved to Canada at the age of 12 before returning to England at the age of 22 to pursue a professional career.

I moved to the US (from the UK) for a few years from the age of 15 due to my dads work. It didn't make me a Yank. Lewis was an Englishman (of Jamaican descent) living in Canada. He fought for Canada because he was in their school and amateur system. It would have been tricky (and indeed costly) for him to represent England/GB in the Ams while living in Canada.

[yiddo14]

The Lewis debate should always end with the post above.

Spot on

[T.M.K]

in 'reality' its much less

Well there's a good argument we have never had any!

The only two who won the TRUE heavyweight title were both born here but raised elsewhere:

1) Fitzsimmons - you could argue he was Australasian when winning the title - plus he was US citizen soon aftre (I think).

2) Lennox Lewis: British-Canadian-Jamaican - always a good topic for debate.

We can say that Bruno, Bentt (a duel-citizen of the UK and USA, bprn here but raised there), Hide (born in Nigeria), Akinwande (also born in Nigeria) and Haye were all belt-holders but never the real champion.... (let alone Nelson, Skelton and Harrison's belts).

At worst we have none, in reality we have two - for arguments sake you can get the number to 7.

Crazy world.

Col/T.M.K

No debate.

Born in England to immigrant Jamaican parents. Moved to Canada at the age of 12 before returning to England at the age of 22 to pursue a professional career.

I moved to the US (from the UK) for a few years from the age of 15 due to my dads work. It didn't make me a Yank. Lewis was an Englishman (of Jamaican descent) living in Canada. He fought for Canada because he was in their school and amateur system. It would have been tricky (and indeed costly) for him to represent England/GB in the Ams while living in Canada.

Quite right sir, I fully agree with you - I was just playing devils advocate. British of Jamaican parentage in my book and always has been.

best wishes,

Col/T.M.K

ps: apologies if my post reads that I think otherwise.

[Captain Hook]

He must be counting Bentt....

[oliverfennell]

I don't think Bentt should be included. He was UK-born but a US citizen, was always previously referred to as American, US-licensed, only fought here once and I'm sure has never or very rarely been back for any reason. He was only played up as British to give the Hide fight an extra angle.

If we count him as British based solely on his place of birth, then we have to remove Hide and Akinwande, due to them being Nigerian-born.

[Syntax Error]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

I think so; Bentt suddenly found his British roots when he won the WBO HW title as it was quite trendy to be a British World HW champ in the 90s. DD

[keithmoonhangover]

so was Johnny Nelson. and WBU champion.

that was different WBF's . Nelson was Federation and Harrison was Foundation. How sad is it that i know that.
Also Skelton was WBU.

I'll get my anorak

anorak not that i would know something like that i'll get my anorak too

Does Joe Bugner qualify me for my BoxRec branded anorak? I know he was born in Hungary and living in Australia, but he's 100% btri when it comes to the old WBF title.

[mickey1975]

that was different WBF's . Nelson was Federation and Harrison was Foundation. How sad is it that i know that.
Also Skelton was WBU.

I'll get my anorak

anorak not that i would know something like that i'll get my anorak too

Does Joe Bugner qualify me for my BoxRec branded anorak? I know he was born in Hungary and living in Australia, but he's 100% btri when it comes to the old WBF title.

Aussie Joe IS English!

[Brute]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

Fitzsimmons never boxed in the UK. His family moved to New Zealand when he was nine.

[T.M.K]

Was reminded in the Haye-Klitschko buildup of Ian Darke's proclamation in commentary when Haye beat Valuev that Haye became Britain's seventh world heavyweight champion.

What am I missing here? I can only count six.

Fitzsimmons
Lewis
Bruno
Hide
Akinwande
Haye

He wasn't counting Michael Bentt was he?

Fitzsimmons never boxed in the UK. His family moved to New Zealand when he was nine.

Slightly simplistic answer, as mentioned above: he was like Lennox Lewis many years later. Plus most accounts will always describe him as British-born.....

"T.M.K"

[T.M.K]

that was different WBF's . Nelson was Federation and Harrison was Foundation. How sad is it that i know that.
Also Skelton was WBU.

I'll get my anorak

anorak not that i would know something like that i'll get my anorak too

Does Joe Bugner qualify me for my BoxRec branded anorak? I know he was born in Hungary and living in Australia, but he's 100% btri when it comes to the old WBF title.

I like that!

Very true, on the "lesser" numbers. Fair play.

Col/T.M.K