What is you opinion on Brits who by pass the domestic championship? Certain fighters, Amir Khan springs to mind, get a lot of stick for going down the commonwealth route rather than challenging for the more highly regarded Lonsdale title. I think the history behind the Lonsdale makes it one of the few belts that still has a real prestige to it and I do think there is something lacking on a British fighters CV if he has side stepped it. I think a lot of promoters worry about putting up and comers in the mix for the belt as it's not just a stepping stone title it's also the peek of a lot of "journey men" fighters career so you need to go through a whole mixed bag of opponents to get it.
Do you mean winning the belt outright or just not winning a british title at all?? David Haye Prince Hammed Gavin Rees Ricky Burns Nigel Benn Chris Eubank Probably most British world title holders didnt win a British title.
Not necessarily winning it outright, but just challenging for/winning one. it seems these days more and more prospects are missing out this step in their career. I'm just brining this up as I was reading an old article on Nathan Cleverly where he said he wanted to "do all the belts in order" and it got me thinking that it isn't the case with many fighters now.
If I were a boxer - which I'm not, I've never even stepped in a ring - I would consider myself to have failed somewhat, if I didn't prove myself to be the best on our little island before going on to capture world titles. In Amir Khans case, I believe he was carefully placed into world contention as opposed to earning it. Breidis Prescott anyone? There were guys like hanging around the lightweight division at domestic level that would have given Amir a few problems. However, in his defence he has gone on to a few decent wins - Barrera, Malignaggi. Agree with your reasoning as to why promoters worry about putting the up-and-comers in the mix for the Lonsdale though. But if you wanna be the best. . . . . . . . . . .
Yeh in terms of doing it the traditional route Cleverly is one of the few. I think Nicky Cook was the last british world champ who won all 3 domestic belts.
Maybe over the past 20-30 years but before that the British title was generally the only route through which you could get anywhere near a world title shot...Brit, Commonwealth (Empire) when it meant something, European and then significant world ranking.
It would just hold fighters back in a lot of cases. Haye was going to fight for it but his opponent pulled out did he not, through injury? No point hanging around and waiting for the fight if you want to move onto bigger and better things.
The main beef I have is fighters just ditching it as soon as they move up to Euro level or get a world shot. Jamie McDonnell ditched his to take a risky fight in France which he might of lost - why?
Don't you have to drop the British title if challenging for Euro honours...or do you have to drop the Euro when going for a world strap??
You have to drop the Euro if you go on for an alphabelt but you can keep the British and go for the European. Obviously sometimes the British boxing board can decide that you'll need to fight a mandatory instead and the champion might just vacate. The problem is that for whatever reason winning the British title isn't considered a great achievement, which it should be in my opinion. Therefore the paydays aren't normally there for title defences and promoters will frequently avoid the route due to low risk/reward factor. Clev's done it the right way so far and I applaud him for that.
To be honest I'd rather win the British outright then go for a worldy rather than go British, drop that for the Euro etc. Given that most of the top Europeans seldom bother with it these days barring Maludrottu I think the British carries more prestige. The fact that they are sanctioning Willie Casey and Steve Foster for it, and allowed Lawton recently too reflects it going the same way as the Commonwealth. The board need to come up with some ideas as to how to make our title the best it can be, making sure that the best lads hold it as often as is realistically possible.
McDonnell dropped the belt so another Maloney fighter could get a tv date fighting for it. plus you get allot more money for euro title fights than british.
