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33-638: BBBofC The Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt , commonly known as the Lonsdale Belt, is the oldest championship belt in British professional boxing . The 5th Earl of Lonsdale introduced the prize on behalf of the National Sporting Club (NSC), intending it to be awarded to British boxing champions. Arthur Frederick Bettinson , manager of the NSC, introduced terms and conditions regarding

66-529: A Lonsdale belt outright across all weights. In 2013 the BBBofC in a move to acknowledge further the esteem held for outright Lonsdale belt winners introduced the Lonsdale Badge. Outright winners of the belt are now entitled to display this badge on their boxing shorts during bouts. In May 2023, Welsh boxer Lauren Price became the first female holder of the belt. Lord Lonsdale was the first president of

99-581: A new commemorative mark to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 which was designed by Thomas Fattorini. It depicts an Orb, and reflects the traditional fineness mark for platinum. Mail Order retailing was founded in Britain by both Thomas Fattorini in Skipton and Fattorini & Sons in Bradford. They were the first companies that offered collective purchasing arrangements and began with

132-699: A professional licence on the sole ground that she was a woman, and argued that PMS made women too unstable to box. Claiming sexual discrimination and supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission , Couch managed to have this decision overturned by a tribunal in March 1998. The British Boxing Board of Control gives out the British Boxer of the Year award. Natasha Jonas became the first woman to win this award upon winning it for

165-700: A replica vitreous enamelled version of the Alfred Jewel for the Ashmolean Museum The company was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. Thomas R Fattorini (b.1960, 6th Generation) currently holds the warrant and is the grantee on behalf of Thomas Fattorini Ltd. The company has been manufacturing and supplying the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood since 1975. The company manufactured

198-477: A short time in the 1970s before the BBBofC decided to have it hand-made again, passing the contract to Thomas Fattorini Ltd , who continue to make the belts as of 2019. Each belt costs £14,000. On 6 May 2023, Welsh boxer Lauren Price won the first British women's title fight in boxing history, becoming the first female British welterweight champion and the first woman to receive a Lonsdale belt, by defeating Kirstie Bavington by unanimous points victory. In 1987,

231-575: Is inscribed the names of belt winners. The medallions are interspersed with smaller gold medallions depicting the Union Rose . The belts are backed with a red, white and blue ribbon. The first belts were made in the Birmingham workshop of jewellers Mappin & Webb The silversmiths and trophy makers Thomas Fattorini Ltd , were commissioned to make the belts in sterling silver in the early 1970s and have been making them since. The manufacturer and

264-536: Is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom . The British Boxing Board of Control was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff . Until 1948, it had a colour bar in effect by means of its Rule 24, which stated that title contestants "must have two white parents". The British Boxing Board of Control initially refused to grant Jane Couch

297-523: The Lloyd's insurance market . One of the belts—the last one made of gold—was sold for £22,000. The others sold for £10,000 each. Cooper was expecting £70,000 for the sale but was content they were all sold together. The belts have attracted targeted theft over the years. The first recorded in the media was Don Cockell 's Lonsdale belt, which was stolen in 1952 from a glass cabinet at his home in London while he

330-535: The National Sporting Club (NSC). In 1909, he introduced the Lonsdale Belt—originally the Challenge Belt—as a new trophy for British boxing champions in each weight division. A 9-carat or 22-carat gold belt composed of two heavy chains with a central enamel medallion depicting a boxing match, the centrepiece is flanked by enamel medallions showing single boxers and gold medallions with a scroll on which

363-542: The 1920s. Two Fattorini companies Empire Stores plc and Grattan plc (previously known as Grattan Warehouses Ltd) were listed on the London stock exchange. With the expanding trade in Skipton for medals and awards, the company opened its first factory in 1919 in Hockley street in the Jewellery Quarter Birmingham. In 1928 they moved into a purpose built Jewellery Factory on Regent Street, which

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396-446: The BBBofC decided to award only one belt to any boxer in each division. A boxer can, however, win belts outright in different weight classes. On 1 September 1999 the BBBofC changed the criteria for winning a belt outright; boxers must now win four—rather than three—championship contests in the same weight division. The rule also stipulates that one of the four wins must be a mandatory contest. The BBBofC general secretary John Morris cited

429-439: The BBBofC introducing more stringent rules of attainment in the 1980s and 1990s. The last winner of two belts was Clinton McKenzie in 1987. The Lonsdale belt is a coveted prize with great monetary and sentimental value, finding homes in private collections and museums, and has been auctioned for large sums of money. Belts have been stolen on numerous occasions, none of which have ever been found. Since 1909, only 161 boxers have won

462-540: The McAteer family." Jack Petersen's Lonsdale belt was stolen from his son's home in Burnham, Buckinghamshire in 2013. His son Robert, managing director of Cardiff PR firm Petersens, told Wales Online : "It's the family's crown jewels, a magnificent looking piece of art. It would be a terrible shame if it was melted down." British Boxing Board of Control The British Boxing Board of Control ( BBBofC )

495-878: The Royal Society of Arts on 27 April 1982 and served as vice president from the late 1980s until his death in November 2010. In 2011 Thomas Fattorini Ltd was awarded the President's Medal by the British Art Medal Society and also the Marsh Award for the Encouragement of Medallic Art by the Marsh Christian Trust in recognition for making a significant contribution to the understanding, appreciation and encouragement of

528-561: The art of the medal. It was in Birmingham where the company learned and developed its vitreous enamel skills. The company is known for its design and manufacture of livery and civic insignia which often uses the colourful enamel for the correct interpretation of Heraldry. The more typical items would be for livery jewels, civic chains of office, past officers pendants and badges. Enamels were also used decoratively on maces, medals, ceremonial swords and civic silverware. The company made

561-498: The bout is scored by three judges, none of whom serve as fight referee), the referee is the sole scorer. After the bout (if the fight goes to points decision ), the referee hands his decision to the MC and the winner is announced, the referee then raising the arm of the winner – or, in the event of a draw, both boxers' arms. Thomas Fattorini Ltd The company was founded in 1827 by Antonio Fattorini an Italian speaking immigrant who

594-619: The date a belt was manufactured can be identified by the hallmark on the parts. Each portrait of Lord Lonsdale is uniquely hand painted in vitreous enamel . A total of 22 Lonsdale belts were issued by the NSC; 20 were won outright. The manager of the NSC Arthur Frederick Bettinson published details about the terms and conditions of holding the belt agreed by the NSC in Sporting Life on 22 December 1909. The main rules were: The first recipient of this belt

627-547: The famous 'Watch clubs'. The rule of these clubs made it possible for individuals to buy unaffordable goods, and latterly services, by regular instalments over a period of time. The first watch club was held in Skipton in 1869. (Citation to be added). By 1906 their 35th Annual club was offering pianos, leather travel goods, bicycles (Royal Wingfield, Singer & Humber), spectacles, Edison Bell phonographs, Pathephones and sewing machines for sale by weekly instalments from their stores in Skipton and Bolton. The business grew rapidly in

660-635: The holding of the belt, which ensured its lasting prestige. Freddie Welsh earned the first Lonsdale Belt in 1909 after winning the NSC British Lightweight title. Heavyweight Henry Cooper was the first and only boxer to win three Lonsdale Belts. In 1929 the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) assumed responsibility for awarding the belt, which continues to be bestowed on British champions. Only six boxers have won two Lonsdale belts each outright since 1934, which led to

693-450: The last 9-carat gold belt was launched by the BBBofC and won by the lightweight Eric Boon that year. The last 9-carat gold belt was won outright by Henry Cooper in 1959. Belts made from 1945 are composed of hallmarked silver and the laurel-leaf border has the thistle, daffodil and shamrock added to the extant rose to represent the four national flowers of the UK . The belt was machine-made for

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726-484: The middle." Pat McAteer's belt was stolen from his son's home at Annapolis, Maryland , in 2012. The boxer's son, also named Pat, told the Liverpool Echo that since his father's death he has only had the belt out once to show his nine-year-old nephew Will. "Will was like ‘wow’ when he saw ‘Pop Pop's’ belt. He was going to inherit the belt from me and he was to pass it to his son and so on, so it would stay in

759-544: The reverse. In the 1930s they were offering over 1000 of these medal designs which were made to order. Since 2002 the company has been supporting the British Art Medal Society (BAMS) student medal project which encourages and promotes the art of making medals throughout art colleges in the United Kingdom. Thomas Peter Fattorini (1932-2010) was present at the inaugural meeting of BAMS, held at

792-532: The rising costs of making the belts as the chief reason for the rule change. The BBBofC introduced the Lonsdale Badge in 2013; it is worn by outright winners. According to a Eurosport report: The Lonsdale belt won by Bombardier Billy Wells in 1911 is now kept at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich , London, and is not on display to the general public. Johnny Brown 's Lonsdale Belt

825-431: The valleys around Como, and Lucca with the people from Como being skilled artisans, making barometers and other precision instruments. The first record of him trading was at Upton Yard off Briggate, Leeds 1826. The retail outlets that he established were consolidated in the first generation into three enterprises: Thomas Fattorini in Skipton established in 1827 with the assistance of his brother-in-law Baldisaro Porri who

858-984: The year of 2022. Later, in 2023, Jonas became the first black woman to receive a manager's license from the British Boxing Board of Control. The Board divides the country into seven Area Councils: the Scottish Area, the Northern Ireland Area, the Welsh Area, the Northern Area, the Central Area (including the Isle of Man ), the Southern Area, and the Midlands Area. There was previously a Western Area, which

891-503: Was Freddie Welsh , who defeated Johnny Summers on 8 November 1909 for the NSC British Lightweight title. The NSC became virtually defunct in 1929 and lost control of the sport to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), which started to issue the Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt in 1936. Lonsdale consented to the use of his name and image on the belt in perpetuity; an image of his face remains on it. In 1939

924-687: Was also a barometer maker and merchant in Skipton, Fattorini and Sons in Bradford in 1829, and Antonio Fattorini in Harrogate in 1831. During the First World War the company manufactured badges for the armed forces, including the Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C) badge, and Home Front badges for civilians. Thomas Fattorini Ltd registered its punch at various Assay offices: Birmingham (1918), Edinburgh (date?), London (date?) and Chester (1898). The British Hallmarking Council chose

957-631: Was born in 1797, from Bellagio near Como in the north of Italy and who settled in Yorkshire where he began to trade in jewellery, watches and barometers. He was one of many Italian immigrants who came to in England between 1790s and 1851 at the time when the Napoleonic wars left northern Italy with a destroyed agriculture and much hardship. The regional origins of most of the Italian immigrants were

990-936: Was designed by Mansell & Mansell architects and built for Adie & Lovekin Ltd in 1894 who were also manufacturing jewellers. They renamed the Factory "Trafalgar Works". It was in this location that the company established themselves as manufacturer of vitreous enamel Badges, Medals and Trophies such as the Lonsdale Belt and the FIFA Club World Cup which is considered to be one of the worlds finest football trophies. Thomas Fattorini Ltd as medallists. The earliest medals that Thomas Fattorini made were for sporting achievements. These were often attached to pocket watch chains and so were also known as fob medals. These medals were mostly made in 9ct gold or sterling silver and sometimes enamelled. The medals were personalised on

1023-684: Was donated to the Museum of London in 2010. In November 2000 the belt awarded to Randy Turpin in 1956 was auctioned for £23,000 while in September 2011, the belt won by the welterweight Jack Hood in 1926 fetched £36,000. Hood, who died in 1992, had displayed his belt above the bar at the Bell public house, of which he was the licensee, in Tanworth-in-Arden . In 1993, Henry Cooper sold all three of his belts for £42,000 after losing heavily on

Lonsdale Belt - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-426: Was merged with the Southern Area. The Board also sanctions bouts for British boxing's most prestigious title: the Lonsdale Belt . The Lonsdale Belt is awarded to the champion of the United Kingdom in each respective weight class and to win the belt outright it must be defended against a British challenger on at least three occasions. The Board is known for its unique scoring system. Except for title fights (where

1089-496: Was out dancing. He did not own the £15,000 belt at the time, needing one more victory. In 2007, after attending a training camp, Bobby Vanzie returned to his home to Bradford and discovered his belt had been stolen. Tara promoter Jack Doughty said in the Manchester Evening News : "This is the best belt a boxer can win. It is better than those for world title fights, gold plated with a portrait of Lord Lonsdale in

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