Lonsdale belt

[Adam1991]

How much will it cost the bbofc to make a new belt for Brian rose?

[bigped]

How much will it cost the bbofc to make a new belt for Brian rose?

rose gets that one hes got for keeps, and they get a new one for nxt light middle champ when he vactes, what they worth about 25k or something? prop get them made up for 10k or so must have a deal with company id guess...

[Parson Cross]

No way will he get a new one mate.
Best thing to do is refurb the one he's got.

[Adamj1987]

10k i think but i doubt they will make a new 1

[Wake up call]

I was talking to one board employee last year who said they used to be worth £25,000ish when they were gold and porcelain but now they're gold plated and enamel and cost around £7,500.

[peter1948]

Wake up call is correct they cost to be made around the 8k mark. they gain value with age and the bigger the named holder of the belt the more its worth.
When he died Randy Turpins belt was said to be worth a fortune.

[hurlock]

I think the belt is worthy of top spondular, but they must get them on the cheap & it must reflect on the scoring saving the bbbofc money.
Didn't cooper retain it 9 times owning 3 belts??

[RockyJocky]

The History of the Lonsdale Belt


By Ann-Marie Cartwright

The much coveted Lonsdale belt originated from the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, Hugh Cecil Lowther. A keen enthusiast of sports, Lowther became the first president of the National Sporting Club and bequeathed the first Lonsdale belt in 1909 for a boxing championship trophy. The original Lonsdale belts are crafted from porcelain and are twenty-two carat gold making them valuable items. An anonymous owner recently auctioned a nine-carat gold Lonsdale belt awarded to Randolph Turpin over 40 years ago, which packed a punch of its own, fetching a staggering £23,000.

The first boxer to be decorated with the Lonsdale belt was former British lightweight champion Freddie Welsh in 1909. Due to its historical and financial value, the original Lonsdale Belt is now kept at The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, South East London. Unfortunately it is not exhibited to the general public.

The Lonsdale belt was originally given to the winner of each bout and was passed on as the title changed hands until 1929 when the belts were awarded by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC). Under the BBBC’s jurisdiction, the Lonsdale belt would become the property of a champion who had won three title bouts within the same division. Now however, the belt must be won and defended three times in order to keep the belt outright. Several champions have acquired two belts, but Henry Cooper (“Our Enry”) is the only champion to have acquired three in his illustrious seventeen year professional career.

The idea of a ‘trophy’ in the form of a belt was not the brainchild of Hugh Cecil Lowther. It had in fact been a long standing tradition and had previously surfaced in the cobbles and dusty rings of fairgrounds and market squares whereby pugilism was arguably more entertaining than it is today, with large and elaborate belts up for grabs to the victor of the bout.

The first recorded British champion to have received a belt as a prize was one of the most respected bare-knuckle boxers ever seen in a British prize ring, Tom Cribb in 1809. Cribb’s trophy was not comparable in value to the Lonsdale belt, but it was unique and valuable in its entirety, manufactured from lion skin and decorated with a large silver buckle. Whilst each belt was unique to each fighter, the belts were not automatically given to a fighter who won a championship within his weight division but often were awarded only if his fans could raise the money to buy an expensive trophy.

“Bombardier” Billy Wells from London’s East End was the first British heavyweight to win the Lonsdale Belt back in 1911 where he defeated Ian Hague with a knockout in the sixth round. For the non-boxing enthusiast, Billy Wells has also been seen by millions of spectators of the big screen and is ironically better known as the man who bangs the gong for the start of Rank films.

Wells defended the title thirteen times, a record that stood for many years, before losing against Joe Beckett in February 1919. The Lonsdale Belt that he won was the original heavyweight belt and is crafted from 22 carat gold unlike later belts.

For the next 50 years, these belts were one of the greatest prizes to be gained in Boxing before Britain was sadly swamped by a proliferation of dubious ‘championship’ titles which have devalued the British title to some extent.

[keithmoonhangover]

Has there been a change in rules regarding winning the Lonsdale Belt outright. or am I just losing the plot?

Lennox won it outright, by winning the title (vs Mason) and defending it twice (vs McCrory and Williams)

Price won it (vs Sexton) and defended it twice (vs Harrison and Skelton)

What's the crack? Did I miss a memo?

[hurlock]

Well done rocky jocky I love that sh1t
Did you paste it???
If so your a fine historian!!!

I think fans all have there gifts.i know a bit before my years although well sketchy!!
My talent is reading a fight,live obviously!!

[taffytoon]

They cost £6500 plus VAT

Some may find this interesting

http://www.fattorini.co.uk/uploads/imag ... torini.pdf

[thatllbeme]

how many times do you have to defend it to keep it? how many times has price defended his?

[yogi]

You now have to win it, and then defend it 3 times, BUT, at least one defence must be a mandatory by the BBBOC .

Sam Webb was Brian Rose's mandatory defence, the rest were voluntary.

If Price wins again he keeps it, but only if his opponent is mandated by the board, another voluntary defence wouldn't see him winning for keeps

[keithmoonhangover]

You now have to win it, and then defend it 3 times, BUT, at least one defence must be a mandatory by the BBBOC .

Sam Webb was Brian Rose's mandatory defence, the rest were voluntary.

If Price wins again he keeps it, but only if his opponent is mandated by the board, another voluntary defence wouldn't see him winning for keeps

How did Lewis win his then?

Glyn will know.

[dondada]

Sometimes they give it to a boxer if they don't want to give it up but there are no credible challengers for them or no one wants to fight them. I seem to remember Junior Witter getting one this way.

[orbtastic]

In the old days it used to be just three W notches to win one outright.

You didn't have to even make 2 defences, you could win, lose, win, lose and win and still win the belt.

[tear up]

I wish I got an new one the one I won was it weared but can repair it I blame esham

[keithmoonhangover]

In the old days it used to be just three W notches to win one outright.

You didn't have to even make 2 defences, you could win, lose, win, lose and win and still win the belt.

That's my understanding as well.


There must have been a rule change.

[Parson Cross]

The rules were changed.
That's why Rhodes record of winning the Lonsdale Belt outright in 90 days will never be beaten.
The one he owns outright was battered and bruised to be fair, but after a refurb job it's mint again.
The Board don't even let you take the belt home these days, until its yours outright.
Same with the English - it was hilarious when the Board rep was trying to get it off Curtis recently in the dressing room ! A compromise was reached and at least Curt had it for a few days to show everyone.

[JLP]

That's why Rhodes record of winning the Lonsdale Belt outright in 90 days will never be beaten.

Never say never.

[Parson Cross]

I will say never.
4 title fights in 12 weeks and all wins ?
Never.
There isn't even a Promotor in the UK who would stump up the purses for starters

[JLP]

I will say never.
4 title fights in 12 weeks and all wins ?
Never.
There isn't even a Promotor in the UK who would stump up the purses for starters

It's possible. But my point is that they've changed the rules several times in the past, what's to stop them changing them again?

[Parson Cross]

They will never relax the rule pal. If anything they'll make it tougher, but I think the four fight rule is here to stay.
Anyway even if it was relaxed to three fights name me a UK Promotor who'd put three title fights on in 12 weeks ?
It would be a logistical and costly nightmare because inevitably it would involve Promotors working together - and we've seen that such a lot lately haven't we ? - NOT.

[fantaheed]

I wish I got an new one the one I won was it weared but can repair it I blame esham

get it repaired mate and invoice esham

[Old bones Ian]

Recent auctions of Lonsdale belts have raised considerable intrest, Jack Hoods belt went for £36,000 in 2011 and Henry Coopers belt went for £49,000 also in 2011