British Champion ?

[dalcumly]

In last weeks Boxing News Tom Stalker speaks of why he gave up the game.
On losing to Masher Dodd he realised he would never fight for a world title and that all he'd be was British champion.
Well, I ask myself what's so bad a bout that.
If your a fighter whose able to win and retain the British title several times over, say, a four year period, you might have 5 or 6 title fights probably earn around £30,000 to £40,000 each fight and the Lonsdale belt for keeps. Is that so bad? Ok nowadays if your approaching world title level you can earn a great deal more with the right promoter, but how many British boxers fall into that category.
For example, Ricky Burns, said years ago that he loved boxing and even after his world level days were over he'd keep fighting. What would be wrong then for Ricky, getting near the end of his career to go for the British title if he felt he could still do it.
It's like a very good young footballer being released by a top club and deciding that playing full time for the likes of Rotherham or Blackpool etc isn't good enough . They are certainly good enough if the money was there and you loved playing football!

[Bard of Boxrec]

Yeah but there are more health risks with boxing. Some people might not think 40k a fight is worth the potential brain damage if they have other ways of making money.

[TheGman]

In last weeks Boxing News Tom Stalker speaks of why he gave up the game.
On losing to Masher Dodd he realised he would never fight for a world title and that all he'd be was British champion.
Well, I ask myself what's so bad a bout that.
If your a fighter whose able to win and retain the British title several times over, say, a four year period, you might have 5 or 6 title fights probably earn around £30,000 to £40,000 each fight and the Lonsdale belt for keeps. Is that so bad? Ok nowadays if your approaching world title level you can earn a great deal more with the right promoter, but how many British boxers fall into that category.
For example, Ricky Burns, said years ago that he loved boxing and even after his world level days were over he'd keep fighting. What would be wrong then for Ricky, getting near the end of his career to go for the British title if he felt he could still do it.
It's like a very good young footballer being released by a top club and deciding that playing full time for the likes of Rotherham or Blackpool etc isn't good enough . They are certainly good enough if the money was there and you loved playing football!

As a fan of boxing who used to box but things got in the way of making a decent go of it,i would love to have a Lonsdale belt earned through boxing. Stalker is in a privileged postion to try and earn a lonsdale but didnt want to continue? He fought for a trophy as a kid but didnt want a Lonsdale belt? Strange.

[dalcumly]

Yeah but there are more health risks with boxing. Some people might not think 40k a fight is worth the potential brain damage if they have other ways of making money.

However, the vast majority of professional boxers fight regularly for a lot less than £40,000. I would estimate that a 6 x 3 fighter probably earns around £2,000.

[ShadrachSimmo]

It’s all about ambition I suppose. Switching from the amateurs he obviously thought he was good enough to compete at the top of the pro game. This was not the case clearly.

He found his level but didn’t even fulfil his potential at that level.

[smiling assassin]

Losing to Sean Dodd proved to him that he would struggle to win a British that's the truth of it

[Stuarty]

Stalker was a top amatuer and turning pro didn't go the way he expected it to. Maybe he stayed am too long? I remember he was captain of the England team in the Commonwealth games and soundly beat a Young Josh Taylor in the final i think it was... Then he's a pro and getting punched about stupid of an unheard of (at the time) Jack Catterall then going life and death with Craig Evans.... With all due respect the penny should've dropped that he wasn't as good as he thought he was in the first or second Evans fight....

[Stuarty]

He always struck me as a bit of an arrogant twat as well...

[bigped]

I would say 15-24k on average for British title fights unless big names or heavyweight

[margaret thatcher]

Fans care more about belts and stuff than fighters do

[Stuarty]

Fans care more about belts and stuff than fighters do

British title is going the same way as the FA Cup! Losing its value as the years go by... There used to be nothing better than a proper 50/50 domestic scrap for the British title. The days of Moore/Macklin and Arthur/Gomez etc....

[ThereByTheGrace]

Is it 40k before tax or after?

Does that include expenses, trainer costs, manager, promoter etc.

Also where would motivation be if you cant progress past that level. Be better off retiring and finding another venture for the rest of your life

[smiling assassin]

Fans care more about belts and stuff than fighters do

British title is going the same way as the FA Cup! Losing its value as the years go by... There used to be nothing better than a proper 50/50 domestic scrap for the British title. The days of Moore/Macklin and Arthur/Gomez etc....

its a shame but I think them days are long gone. To many belts around at world level for the British to hold any credibility now. Personally I think every Btitish fighter should want to win it but sadly that's not the case.

[Old bones Ian]

Don't think Stalker ever got over the 2012 Olympics, not getting a medal took something out of his desire.

[dalcumly]

But surely over 90% of boxers turning professional know they have no chance of fighting for or winning a world title. They want to make as much as possible though. When they settle down and progress there comes a stage where they 'might' feel that a British title fight is within reach.
The best route for these guys then is eliminator, final eliminator and / or a title fight which is the best chance of earning.
When that route fails then it's a case of giving up or accepting the situation and earning while protecting yourself.

[rd350lc]

He always struck me as a bit of an arrogant twat as well...

Na mate , I don't know what fight it was towards the end of his career , but he lost a close decision and could have argued the toss ,but was magnanimous in defeat and said his opponent completely deserved it .
Can't speak for other times but on that occasion he was a top bloke.

[Stuarty]

He always struck me as a bit of an arrogant twat as well...

Na mate , I don't know what fight it was towards the end of his career , but he lost a close decision and could have argued the toss ,but was magnanimous in defeat and said his opponent completely deserved it .
Can't speak for other times but on that occasion he was a top bloke.

I'll take that from you mate. I didn't know that would be the case.

[Boxerbeetle]

But surely over 90% of boxers turning professional know they have no chance of fighting for or winning a world title. They want to make as much as possible though. When they settle down and progress there comes a stage where they 'might' feel that a British title fight is within reach.
The best route for these guys then is eliminator, final eliminator and / or a title fight which is the best chance of earning.
When that route fails then it's a case of giving up or accepting the situation and earning while protecting yourself.

Yeah but it’s just expectations isn’t it. Stalker had a successful amateur career and presumably thought he’d have similar success in the pros. Must be really difficult to motivate yourself if you suddenly realise you’re not anywhere near as good as you thought you were, and won’t ever reach the level you were aiming for. It’s very different to someone knowing from the outset that they’ll never be at the top level, or someone just doing it for the love.

[Boxerbeetle]

He always struck me as a bit of an arrogant twat as well...

Na mate , I don't know what fight it was towards the end of his career , but he lost a close decision and could have argued the toss ,but was magnanimous in defeat and said his opponent completely deserved it .
Can't speak for other times but on that occasion he was a top bloke.

Maybe the last Craig Evans fight? Think that rings a bell.

[dalcumly]

Good point.

[rd350lc]

Na mate , I don't know what fight it was towards the end of his career , but he lost a close decision and could have argued the toss ,but was magnanimous in defeat and said his opponent completely deserved it .
Can't speak for other times but on that occasion he was a top bloke.

Maybe the last Craig Evans fight? Think that rings a bell.

Yes , that was the one

[THEBUTCH]

He was a successful amateur but I don't think Stalker was capable of winning the British title. Sadly, he was decidedly average as a pro.

I think the way his decision to retire is worded and he'd 'only be a British champion' puts a very shiney gloss on his capabilities.

Central Area title and British title eliminator, sure, but in reality that's the limit and that's in no way meant to be disparaging because I still place plenty of weight on such fights being a traditionalist.

[Stuarty]

Na mate , I don't know what fight it was towards the end of his career , but he lost a close decision and could have argued the toss ,but was magnanimous in defeat and said his opponent completely deserved it .
Can't speak for other times but on that occasion he was a top bloke.

I'll take that from you mate. I didn't know that would be the case.

Good lad

[bennie]

I honestly feel that an ex-boxer spotted at a show and announced "former British champion..." is better than an ex-boxer announced "former world champion...". Billy Schwer won a Lonsdale Belt outright and also something called the IBO title. I wonder which title - which belt -he covets the most?

[margaret thatcher]

I honestly feel that an ex-boxer spotted at a show and announced "former British champion..." is better than an ex-boxer announced "former world champion...". Billy Schwer won a Lonsdale Belt outright and also something called the IBO title. I wonder which title - which belt -he covets the most?

Do you think the British title is the best out of all titiles?