BoxRec

Just putting together a list of titles that have the most importance in order. Which is better the British or Commonwealth title?

Thanks,

Steve - USA

I would say most boxers would always want to be British champion than Commonwealth, With the British title if the boxer wins 4 title fights the get to keep the Lonsdale belt.

But the Commonwealth Title covers a much bigger part of the World.

That is the strange thing - bigger pool of fighters, from Canada, Nigeria etc.

But no really big name would think of taking it I think - Kirk Johnston, Corrie Sanders, Tua etc. they'd never think about it.

Bob Mirovic is fighting for the vacant Commonwealth heavy belt

The British is a much more prestigious title, sadly the commonwealth has devalued a lot over the years.

But on the other hand I can't think of a current British Commonwealth champion who doesn't have a strong call for being the best in the country at his weight.

The British title has more build-up stages. Commonwealth shots can come quite early in a career.

If we go on the assumption that boxers like to go for the area titles to the English title to the British title to the commonwealth title to the european title then on to world honours than you would have to make the assumption that the commonwealth holds more value to a fighter i.e. that step up in class.

Foggy wrote:If we go on the assumption that boxers like to go for the area titles to the English title to the British title to the commonwealth title to the european title then on to world honours than you would have to make the assumption that the commonwealth holds more value to a fighter i.e. that step up in class.

That sounds the most sensible way of putting it, to me.

Yeah, British is really the best of domestic class, Commonwealth the best of inter-continental (there's a word that's been forever bastardized by the alphabets). Unfortunately lots of fighters now bypass it, so there has been plenty of times a 'better' fighter has held the British than the Commonwealth.

There's some great fights that could've happened for the Commonwealth title between Aussies/Canadians and Brits over the years.

Respect to a lot of the African fighters for sticking with it (even if they don't have much choice).

Foggy wrote:If we go on the assumption that boxers like to go for the area titles to the English title to the British title to the commonwealth title to the european title then on to world honours than you would have to make the assumption that the commonwealth holds more value to a fighter i.e. that step up in class.

I disagree with that assumption. Most British title fights are for the British and commonwealth chapionship belts and when a fighter wins these championships they usually mention how happy they are to be the British champion rather than the commonwealth champion. I also dont think that most boxers win the British title before the commonwealth title I think it is about 50-50 which belt they will win first if these titles are seperated.

For British fighters, the British title is the most highly regarded belt there is, other than a GENUINE world belt.

chado wrote:

Foggy wrote:If we go on the assumption that boxers like to go for the area titles to the English title to the British title to the commonwealth title to the european title then on to world honours than you would have to make the assumption that the commonwealth holds more value to a fighter i.e. that step up in class.

That sounds the most sensible way of putting it, to me.

This is the way it was before ratings were started as a manipulative gimmick by Ring magazine 80 years ago obscuring the real path to Glory. The original path was to win “Titles”; starting with local and working your way up winning State/Province, Country, Regional and Continental titles to qualify for a World title challenge. U were forced to beat a contender in order to BE a contender.

In this scenario, Hatton would have faced Witter & Urkal before he faced Tyzu. (No offense intended.)

The commonwealth & European tiles have been diminished by subjective ratings manipulated by the ABC’S to please the promoters. This opened the way for unproven prospects to move up through attrition without facing a recognized contender.

Well spoken Blue.
Fighters before ratings would "enhance" their reputations by beating 'already' reputable fighters (contenders, regional & national champions) on the road to such titles...

The British Title was at one time 'more-or-less' a world title, with Empire and Commonwealth title's 'icing on the cake' and these Champions were almost always considered "worthy" opponents for a shot at "thee ONE World Title!"

But as to your question I'd say the British Title is the MOST desired and only second to the TRUE World Title - the Lineal Title!

Howcome most countries fighters don't feel that much for their home title like British fighters do with the Lonsdale belt?

Because Britain is the Home of Boxing and Holding a British title was "like" being World Champion... in bygone days.

The prestige was huge and of course the Lonsdale Belt itself again more so in the past was an absolute exquisite and prize gem of an object... A win and two defences made you the "proud" and worthy owner eternally!

There's an interesting question "How many British Champions OWN a Lonsdale Belt outright?"

If you accept, that the question is

- how competitive is the the title?

Then let's apply the criteria

- what was the mean BoxRec rating rank of the losing opponent in the last title fight.

The better the rank - the more competitive the title.

So the Commonwealth Title is more competitive than the British Title.

The result is:

- WBC 10
- IBF 14
- WBA, WBO 17

- IBO 23

- EBU 34

- Commonwealth, USBA 62
- NABA, WBC Int. 65

- WBU 71
- OPBF 72
- EBU EU 74
- British 75
- IBF Int. 78

- WBO Int. 83

- WBC Cont.Am. 90
- WBA Int., IBO Int. 94

jimglen wrote:Because Britain is the Home of Boxing and Holding a British title was "like" being World Champion... in bygone days.

The prestige was huge and of course the Lonsdale Belt itself again more so in the past was an absolute exquisite and prize gem of an object... A win and two defences made you the "proud" and worthy owner eternally!

There's an interesting question "How many British Champions OWN a Lonsdale Belt outright?"

129 British Champs have got to keep the belt for good