Has the British Heavyweight title lost it's appeal?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Has the British Heavyweight title lost it's appeal?

http://www.britishboxers.co.uk/2017/02/ ... s.co.uk%29

[crusader]

That's a long fornicating link

[Ruthless-RKO]

That's a long effing link

I did it with the .. just changed it.

[Stuarty]

Since Cornish and Sexton are to contest the vacant title I'd have to say yes! The board have refused to sanction better fights at lower weights for the British title but this shambolic contest is ok?

[SteveDow]

I think there are now so many versions of world titles and so many non-title fights that make decent/big money whether through there being some grudge between the fighters or other that the Lonsdale Belt has lost its prestige in all divisions.

People no longer look back on decent fighters who have "only" won a British title has having had a good career. Case in point being David Price. Everyone expects world title fights/wins now.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think there are now so many versions of world titles and so many non-title fights that make decent/big money whether through there being some grudge between the fighters or other that the Lonsdale Belt has lost its prestige in all divisions.

People no longer look back on decent fighters who have "only" won a British title has having had a good career. Case in point being David Price. Everyone expects world title fights/wins now.

It's like in the USA, back in the 90's, holding the NABF or USBA title meant something.

[BitPlayer]

I guess it's easier to make people fight for it them give them manditories, than getting people to fight eliminators.

[BitPlayer]

Fun fact: Sexton and Cornish both have higher boxrec rating than Lewison had.

[Bodyshot3]

It largely depends on which fighters want it at a given time....sometimes it remains very relevant indeed (first Chisora/Fury fight) but it also can be something of a sideshow that allows so-so fighters to get a well-known belt and achieve some fairly easy career momentum.

Been like that for a while to be honest; sometimes a British/Commonwealth title match is still meaningful because both fighters are prospects using it as a springboard for bigger fights (and this is the natural meeting point) and at other times it is a tad embarrassing.

[josco]

Well it certainly has to boxers who cannot be bothered to make a third defence to win a Lonsdale belt outright - I am thinking of David Price, even though I have been a huge fan of his over the years.

[Tuan_Jim]

I'd rather see Danny Williams box Michael Sprott a fourth time than watch Scott Gammer vs Mickey Steeds again.

[rm1]

Given the quality in depth of the current British heavy scene the British title should be due a revival as long as the domestic fighters actually get round to fighting each other.

[boxingknockout]

For the top prospects, yes. Even Bruno didn't fight for the title even though there were some decent opponents

[Like a Boss]

Many belts have lost prestige for one simple reason - there are so many of the bloody things.

[crusader]

I think there are now so many versions of world titles and so many non-title fights that make decent/big money whether through there being some grudge between the fighters or other that the Lonsdale Belt has lost its prestige in all divisions.

People no longer look back on decent fighters who have "only" won a British title has having had a good career. Case in point being David Price. Everyone expects world title fights/wins now.

It's like in the USA, back in the 90's, holding the NABF or USBA title meant something.

I remember those days..they probably lasted until the early 2000s. There were some real wars for those titles on ESPN, and there was a much more significant feel to American bouts contested at that level than you'd generally get now. When they lost their prestige the domestic scene in the US took a big hit to me.

One of the things I like about British boxing has been the pumping atmosphere for fights that are well below world title level.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think there are now so many versions of world titles and so many non-title fights that make decent/big money whether through there being some grudge between the fighters or other that the Lonsdale Belt has lost its prestige in all divisions.

People no longer look back on decent fighters who have "only" won a British title has having had a good career. Case in point being David Price. Everyone expects world title fights/wins now.

It's like in the USA, back in the 90's, holding the NABF or USBA title meant something.

I remember those days..they probably lasted until the early 2000s. There were some real wars for those titles on ESPN, and there was a much more significant feel to American bouts contested at that level than you'd generally get now. When they lost their prestige the domestic scene in the US took a big hit to me.

One of the things I like about British boxing has been the pumping atmosphere for fights that are well below world title level.

I tend to watch Boxing Classics on Box-Nation here in the UK, and they're always early to mid 90's replays from Tuesday Fight Nights on ESPN I think. You're right, very competitive fights and holding the NABF title for example was a big thing. Now it's merely a stepping stone.

[keirw]

The problem is that so many world titles are available now, particularly since Klitcshko's defeat to Fury.

We currently have one fighter holding the IBF, one challenging for the WBO and one looking for an eliminator for the WBC, and of course the previously mentioned big fella who will no doubt be back looking for his belts at some point.

With David Haye only wanting big paydays and Chisora having already beaten Sexton twice, that doesn't really leave any decent British heavyweights to fight for the Lonsdale.

We will likely be stuck watching guys like Cornish, Sexton, Lewison, Allen etc fighting over the British until the next big thing comes along and blows them all away. But even he will then likely drop the belt and go for a bigger prize at the first opportunity.

I will say this about Sexton and Cornish, they will both know that the British is about as high as they will ever be able to reach. So win it will mean more to them than just a stepping stone, and they should throw everything they have into it.

[Coco]

Easy nights work for Sexton

[PredatorHayds]

No I don't think it has. We have just been lucky to have talented guys who are above domestic level.
Chisora-Whyte was the last fight for the title and was a corker. Both are above domestic class though and could end up getting world/title honours.
There are a handful of young unbeaten talented guys coming up. The winner of Sexton/Cornish becomes a target for these guys.
If the title has regular fights it becomes exciting again.

[freddydoesdallas]

The multiple world level belts don't help but i also think the lack of quality in the division overall means that the pool of fighters who would normally be competing for this and maybe the European belt now think it's not worth taking the risk on a standard British title fight against another rival, it's better to sit it out, try and make your name in some other way or by fighting someone who will go onto, or is world level, but you will lose ie Joshua for Whyte, Vitali/Haye for Chisora and hope you can pick up a shot from that performance.

Whyte & Chisora are probably lesser fighters than the likes of Williams, Sprott, Skelton and probably just above guys like McDermott, Harrison, Sexton but they've got the chance to get more money by selecting carefully

[Crease]

Has the British Heavyweight title lost it's appeal?

I wouldn't necessarily say so. But what we need is a Heavyweight to win the British title, then defend it a good few times (6/7) against good Heavyweights, to get the public's attention back on to this title.

Too many times in the past have we seen guys (in all weight divisions) win the British strap and then automatically think "I have to step up now, I've done the British-level thing and achieved it".

Maybe if terrestrial TV picked up the title and showed British title fights, it could mean something to the Joe Public again...

[punchoutsb]

I will say this about Sexton and Cornish, they will both know that the British is about as high as they will ever be able to reach. So win it will mean more to them than just a stepping stone, and they should throw everything they have into it.

This right here is an excellent point. I agree, domestic titles in the USA and UK have really lost a lot of their prestige and appeal but that doesn't mean the fights can't end up being real crackers. I expect Sexton and Cornish to go at it because this is the top of their mountain! It's almost more appealing (depending on the fighters of course) to have two fighters at the top of their game fighting to be king of the small hill then to have a juggernaut crushing all the local talent when he's clearly steps above. From a US perspective a fight like Minto/Maddalone back in 2004 I believe. That fight wasn't for a belt, but it pretty much summed up what an NABF/USBA title bout should be.

[Andrew]

No I don't think it has. We have just been lucky to have talented guys who are above domestic level.
Chisora-Whyte was the last fight for the title and was a corker. Both are above domestic class though and could end up getting world/title honours.
There are a handful of young unbeaten talented guys coming up. The winner of Sexton/Cornish becomes a target for these guys.
If the title has regular fights it becomes exciting again.

But are they.

Hughie isn't past domestic level yet, neither is Whyte. Chisora I would say is British level now Price as well.

[Stuarty]

No I don't think it has. We have just been lucky to have talented guys who are above domestic level.
Chisora-Whyte was the last fight for the title and was a corker. Both are above domestic class though and could end up getting world/title honours.
There are a handful of young unbeaten talented guys coming up. The winner of Sexton/Cornish becomes a target for these guys.
If the title has regular fights it becomes exciting again.

But are they.

Hughie isn't past domestic level yet, neither is Whyte. Chisora I would say is British level now Price as well.

Chisora on his game is past domestic level as is Whyte. It wasn't long ago he was the European champ.

[Andrew]

Look at Hughie Fury, they turned down Whyte after being mandated. Have no fight at all and now mandatory for a world title on the back of the dire fight with Kassi.

So why fight for the British when you can get fights like that,

It's not just heavyweight. Paul Smith was never above British level but look at the chances he got.

The problem as people alluded to is the multiple belts and how easy it is for people to get shots and devalues domestic titles.

The silver, Intercontinenal etc what I like to call "toy belts" are the bigger problem.