BoxRec

what do people think? Obviously you don't have to be world- or European- class to win one, but at the same time there have been better and worse fighters that have held the belt.

Probably lucky because of the way he won it and who he beat but there was a gentleman from Coventry called Bobby Arthur who won the British title via disqualification against John H. Stracey back in 1973 - he got KO'd by Stracey in his first defence. Arthur fought Pat Thomas for the inaugural British light middleweight title a year later and was KO'd in the 10th. Probably wasn't the worst fighter to win the Britsh title but was probably the luckiest in regards who he faced first time around.

Salford boxer Steve Walker was probably the unluckiest fighter to fight for a British title - from when John Doherty beat Pat Doherty for the vacant British super featherweight title back in 1983 - the champion always lost the title on the first defence and this carried on for about 10 years until Neil Haddock defeated Steve Walker in Haddocks first defence of the Lonsdale belt - could you imagine how pissed off Steve Walker must have been to be the first person not to take adavange of this jinx - probably unrivalled anywhere in championship boxing.

Yeah, saw this thread and thought immediately of the super feather title....

orbtastic wrote:Yeah, saw this thread and thought immediately of the super feather title....

what happened with that belt in the 70's?

Lack of fighters, the world titles were going but historically some of those lower "new" weights have never really been too active domestically. Same with some of the other British titles - They often go into stasis for a few years, either the holders are off chasing bigger things or there just aren't the fights to be made.

Was it Mike Devaney the Featherweight in the mid 90's - lost his title to Jon jo Irwin.

stujones wrote:Was it Mike Devaney the Featherweight in the mid 90's - lost his title to Jon jo Irwin.

That's not a bad shout for worst boxer to win a British title in recent memory - Or rather, worst record maybe. Woolcombe, maybe, at 154?

Woolcombe a decent shout.

I don't know why, but I feel much worse doing this for British boxers than I do world boxers? It feels wrong somehow.

Perhaps, but if you look at the case of Deveney:

It was a vacant contest, against a guy with a 7-1 record. MD himself was what, 17-8 going in with all his wins coming against guys with losing records or novices. He was 6-3 in his previous 9 fights and in fact would lose his next fight to a 6 fight novice before defending against Irwin. After winning the title he went 5-11 before retiring.

Now no disrespect to the fella, I've seen him fight but that's not exactly great form right there and you have to say he had a touch of the green in getting that title fight and who he was matched against.

Yeah, good timing. I'm not really a subscriber to luck either but it's a concept most seem to deem interchangeable with other words/concepts.

I'd rather be the worst boxer to win a British title, than be a boxer thats never won it

Anyone who wins a Lonsdale belt fight deserves credit but Keith Knox was a bit lucky to beat Damaen Kelly on a cut - he then lost in his first defence to Jason Booth.

lee meager.

neville meade.

What about Matthew Barney only just beating the one armed Dean Francis?

ed robinson wrote:Anyone who wins a Lonsdale belt fight deserves credit but Keith Knox was a bit lucky to beat Damaen Kelly on a cut - he then lost in his first defence to Jason Booth.

Yes, although I think Knox deserved some luck after the the Cantwell fight. Most thought he beat Cantwell.

Gary Wolcombe won the British title when Jamie Moore vacated it. He wasnt the best like.....

Shirow wrote:What about Matthew Barney only just beating the one armed Dean Francis?

Please dont tell me Barney was once a British title holder??? Only even seen his digraceful fight with mcintosh (which he didnt get paid for) and vowed never to watch him again.