British Champs Born Overseas

[Delta Jay]

Sorry if this has been done before.

How many examples are there of fighters not born in Britain who won the title?

Pat Thomas was the first, if memory serves. And I know Dillian fought for it against AJ but don’t think he won it.

What are the rules? As long as you’re a citizen you can fight for it? And I’m sure there’s been some funny odd matchups for belts you lot can name, two Russians fighting for the commonwealth belt or something?

[Frostieballs]

I think there are quite a few examples of this. Off the top of my head, Howard Eastman was one.

I believe once you become a British citizen you are eligible.

Must be examples of two naturalised boxers competing for the Lonsdale.

[keirw]

Chisora was born in Zimbabwe and didn't move to the UK till he was in his teens I think.

I remember Bundu beating Gavin for the European title and being surprised to find afterwards that he had also won the Commonwealth strap (he was eligible due to the country of his birth).

Not aware of Russians fighting for the Commonwealth title but there are many who have fought for North American titles.

Didn't Tom Dallas once fight for the US title? I think the rules over the pond are bit more lax than over here.

[Frostieballs]

Joe Bugner also just came to me... fought for the Australian as well I believe.

[keirw]

I seem to remember Ian Lewison winning the Oriental title a couple years back, he later claimed to have a Chinese grandmother or something.

[Cholo_cws]

Charlie Magri was born in Tunisia. Barry McGuigan in (Republic of) Ireland.

[coghaugen11]

Kirkland Laing

[orbtastic]

Andries

[Cholo_cws]

I've learnt recently on here that Chris Eubank Sr. was born on the planet Krypton.

[orbtastic]

Olusegun
Ampofo

[Fray Bentos]

The two Bunnies... Sterling and Johnson were both born in Jamaica - as was Gary Mason and Neville Meade.

Maurice Hope was born in the BWI - was in Antuiga.

[Frostieballs]

I've learnt recently on here that Chris Eubank Sr. was born on the planet Krypton.

How long until the resident Eubank biographer either confirms or denies this?

[Fray Bentos]

Barry McGuigan and Young John McCormack were born in the Republic of Ireland.

[orbtastic]

Ovill McKenzie
Bruce Scott
Derek Roche

[orbtastic]

Honeyghan
Mitee
Clinton McKenzie

[Onamastus]

Herbie Hide and Henry Akinwande; Howard Eastman. I assume this will be a mostly post-WWII phenomenom.

[Delta Jay]

Predictably loads of Jamaicans. Makes sense.

Can’t believe I’ve only just realised this one when someone mentioned Bugner fighting for Australian title:



Any excuse for this vid. But it was a Scouser fighting a Macedonian for the Aussie light middle title.

[orbtastic]

Herbie Hide and Henry Akinwande; Howard Eastman. I assume this will be a mostly post-WWII phenomenom.

Akinwande never fought for the British title. Hide went down the WBC Intl route and vacated British after beating Murray, Akinwande went down the Commonwealth/EBU route.

Forget who the British champ at the time was - Lewis for a time. Big Bad Oyebole (Born in Nigeria). Welch (briefly) then Francis for a while but Hide and Henry had already hit the heady heights of the WBO by then.

[Delta Jay]

Here’s a British title fight with a born Jamaican and born St Lucian, both fighters been mentioned a couple times on this thread already:

https://boxrec.com/en/event/292245/221548

[Fray Bentos]

Najib Daho 'The Casbah Kid' was born in Morocco but was a proper Mancunian hero!

[Fray Bentos]

Wasn't Shinny Bayaar a British champion?

[Fray Bentos]

Ben Foord, the South African was British and Empire heavyweight champion, he KO'd Jack Petersen.

[Cholo_cws]

I've learnt recently on here that Chris Eubank Sr. was born on the planet Krypton.

How long until the resident Eubank biographer either confirms or denies this?

Well I guess as he wasn't actually a British champ we might be spared.

Tee Jay - born in Ghana.

[coghaugen11]

Reported a couple of online trolls on here. Hopefully they'll be dealt with accordingly.

[watsupdoc87]

Reported a couple of online trolls on here. Hopefully they'll be dealt with accordingly.

Fuk of grass