Brits that didn't win the Lonsdale Belt

Hatton bought one, but he never legitimately won a belt.

 

JC and Hatton both never won the Lonsdle belt outright. JC was awarded one a few years ago by none other than Prince Charles himself, though:good. There's bound to be loads not mentioned but those are two off of the top of my head along with Haye and Naz.

 

Whilst it is a great prize, and I would love to win one - is it not a little overrated these days?

After all, winning the national championship means **** all now in relation to potential European and World opportunities - the ranking systems aren't logical at all...... sometimes your career has to take precedence over parochial pride?

I guess it just depends on what opposition is available to you at the time I guess, but I wouldn't stick around waiting if I could move up faster. There isn't anything to stop a fighter doing it on the way down, after all.....

 

While it sounds good in theory, in practice even world class fighters find it very difficult to pick one up on the way down. By the time they've accepted they are domestic level again they are usually pretty much finished.

 

That said, it does settle the 'but is he the best in his own country?' debate. If you are in a fairly thin division, then I see no reason why a few defences of the Lonsdale belt can't be made at the start of someone's career rather than just fighting completely sub-standard opposition that are only turning up for a paycheck instead. If someone is in a stacked division, then it is a perfect gauge of just how good someone can be, IMO.

Our welters aren't too shoddy at the moment and that's why I have a huge amount of respect for Kel Brook- he said he wanted the title outright and went on and got it rather than face sub-standard oppo from around the world. The fact that he's taken a fight with Jennings also speaks volumes about the guy, IMO. How many others from this generation of instant gratification would have bypassed domestic tests and challenges for easier achievements elsewhere?

 

Yeah - you don't see guys challenging for British titles in between say losing the world title and getting another crack anymore.

Usually because you have one fight against a body to warm up on, then straight into an interim fight or eliminator.

 

I think he forked out for the belt of Tom Collins to be repaired, which was a class act.