British/Common Wealth titles ? What do they mean ?

[Hulk]

I've always wondered what is the difference between the British and Common wealth titles ? And what do they mean to you fans in the UK ?

I can remember hearing a few years back about Danny Williams and Matt Skelton going back and forth for the British Heavyweight Title and it being somewhat exciting for some fans.

What is the deal with these belts ?

[marbleheadmaui]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

[Hulk]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

[marbleheadmaui]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

Yup. But guys from now independent nations that used to be colonies can still be Commonwealth champs. Nigerian Dick Tiger was one and so was Ghan-ian (?) Azumah Nelson IIRC.

[Dropanuke]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

It's a bit like a british fighter trying to win the nabf/nabo title I suppose

[Fenster]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

Hilarious. That's a "McFly" moment if ever there was one

These titles still are important to fighters. Apart from the prestige of being the champion of your country/europe/commonwealth, the champion is gauranteed the lions share of purse splits for defences, and in the case of the European title, gaurantee a top 10-15 rating with the WBC. Couple of defences and you'll be top 5.

So these stepping stone titles help promote you to a "world" title shot. Currently see Darren Barker-Sergio Martinez. Barker is (was) the European champion, had a top 3 rating with the WBC and gets a shot at their champ.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I think anything that relates to the commonwealth should be scrapped. That includes the Commonwealth Games. Just a daft outdated relic.

The British Title is still very prestigious though, but maybe if only for fighters that are never gonna be world beaters?

[Burgie]

^^ Sounds like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS the americans hold for so many sports (yet are only inclusive of american teams) LOL

I don't see a problem with it at all, but I do have a problem with so many CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD etc ... It is clear, this belt is champion of the commonwealth states, the british one reflecting the british isles... Dont see an issue?

[erics44]

I think anything that relates to the commonwealth should be scrapped. That includes the Commonwealth Games. Just a daft outdated relic.

The British Title is still very prestigious though, but maybe if only for fighters that are never gonna be world beaters?

the commonwealth belt is a decent belt

One below the british if you like and very prestigeous

and the commonwealth games are decent, the one in Manchester a few years back did endless good for the city and the country

for instance the veladrome (spelling) was built for the games and since a lot of the training for the british bike athletes happens there, and look at how many golds we won in those events in the last olympics

[marbleheadmaui]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

Hilarious. That's a "McFly" moment if ever there was one

These titles still are important to fighters. Apart from the prestige of being the champion of your country/europe/commonwealth, the champion is gauranteed the lions share of purse splits for defences, and in the case of the European title, gaurantee a top 10-15 rating with the WBC. Couple of defences and you'll be top 5.

So these stepping stone titles help promote you to a "world" title shot. Currently see Darren Barker-Sergio Martinez. Barker is (was) the European champion, had a top 3 rating with the WBC and gets a shot at their champ.

See the key there is there is ONE Brit/Commonwealth Champ. There IS value in that. Wait until the WBA creates intermi, regular, super, emeritus, diamond belt and the dreaded silver belt Brit titles! Then EVERYONE can be a champ

[Fenster]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

Hilarious. That's a "McFly" moment if ever there was one

These titles still are important to fighters. Apart from the prestige of being the champion of your country/europe/commonwealth, the champion is gauranteed the lions share of purse splits for defences, and in the case of the European title, gaurantee a top 10-15 rating with the WBC. Couple of defences and you'll be top 5.

So these stepping stone titles help promote you to a "world" title shot. Currently see Darren Barker-Sergio Martinez. Barker is (was) the European champion, had a top 3 rating with the WBC and gets a shot at their champ.

See the key there is there is ONE Brit/Commonwealth Champ. There IS value in that. Wait until the WBA creates intermi, regular, super, emeritus, diamond belt and the dreaded silver belt Brit titles! Then EVERYONE can be a champ

Thankfully not even the ridiculous world of boxing can get away with multiple champs per country/county/area. I bet it's been attempted/discussed though

[Hulk]

Back in the day when there was one world champion per division regional titles were enormously prestigious and important. The Commonwealth crown, the Euro Crown and the OPBF (Asia) champs were often in line for a "world title" shot.

I'm pretty sure the difference is the British Crown is the Champ of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) while the Commonwealth involves those areas as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other former British Colonies like Ghana and other parts of Africa.

Of course one has to be a citizen of those places to be a champ. An American can't be British champ even if he beats him.

I'm pretty sure all that is accurate.

Thank you Mr. Boxing Encyclopedia

Thats interesting that an American can't win the title.

Hilarious. That's a "McFly" moment if ever there was one

These titles still are important to fighters. Apart from the prestige of being the champion of your country/europe/commonwealth, the champion is gauranteed the lions share of purse splits for defences, and in the case of the European title, gaurantee a top 10-15 rating with the WBC. Couple of defences and you'll be top 5.

So these stepping stone titles help promote you to a "world" title shot. Currently see Darren Barker-Sergio Martinez. Barker is (was) the European champion, had a top 3 rating with the WBC and gets a shot at their champ.

McFly ? As in from Back to the Future ?

I was simply stating that it is surprising that if an American or any other nationality beats a Brit for the British or Commonwealth title, then he cannot win the title. Not that he would really give a shit about it in the first place

[Kev]

The British title is a big deal. If you defend it twice you win the Lonsdale belt, a belt you get to keep outright. Throughout British history it's been one of the most sought after honours for many British fighters and those who have won it are well remembered in British boxing history.

The list of outright winners is actually pretty small.

From Wikipedia

• Freddie Welsh (1912) [1]
• Jim Driscoll (1910)
• Digger Stanley (1910)
• Bombardier Billy Wells (heavyweight) (1913)
• Jimmy Wilde (flyweight) (1917)
• Pat O'Keeffe (middleweight) (191
• Johnny Brown (bantamweight) (1923) (defended twice 1925, retained)
• Jack Petersen (heavyweight) (1935)
• Nel Tarleton (outright winner of two belts in 1936 and 1945)
• Jackie Paterson (flyweight) (1943)
• Ronnie Clayton (outright winner of two belts in 1950 and 1953)
• Randolph Turpin (light-heavyweight) (1952, outright in 1956)
• Peter Keenan (outright winner of two belts in 1953 and 1957)
• Henry Cooper (outright winner of three belts)
• Brian Curvis (outright winner of two belts in 1961 and 1964)
• Howard Winstone (outright winner of two belts in 1962 and 1963)
• Maurice Cullen (lightweight) (1966)
• George Feeney (1984)
• Hugh Russell (1985)
• Billy Hardy (bantamweight) (1989)
• Lennox Lewis (heavyweight) (1992)
• Richie Wenton (super-bantam weight) (1994 - 1996)
• Julius Francis (heavyweight) (1999)
• Michael Gomez (super featherweight) (2000)
• Danny Williams (heavyweight) (2002)
• David Barnes (welterweight) (2004)
• Matt Skelton (heavyweight) (2005)
• Scott Dann (middleweight) (2005)
• Carl Froch (super middleweight) (2006)
• Kell Brook (welterweight) (2009)
• John Simpson (featherweight) (2010)

[El Kabong]

The titles mean jack crap!

Will David Haye win one? Could he win won? Who's the current British Champ?

I guess the American equivalent to those titles is the NABF title perhaps?

[marbleheadmaui]

The titles mean jack crap!

Will David Haye win one? Could he win won? Who's the current British Champ?

I guess the American equivalent to those titles is the NABF title perhaps?

With all the "world" titles now they don't mean much. Like I said, too bad because they really used to carry some weight.