Bonhams 1793 : The Gold Heavyweight Lonsdale Belt won by Henry Cooper, 1959 (twice) and 1961,

29 May 2012 11:00 BST Chester
General Sporting Memorabilia
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The Gold Heavyweight Lonsdale Belt won by Henry Cooper, 1959 (twice) and 1961,

9 carat gold, Mappin & Webb, Sheffield 1936, the central oval enamel portrait of Lord Lonsdale surmounted by lion passant engraved on the mount 'Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt British Boxing Board of Control First President (1929) Heavyweight Championship of Great Britain'and on the reverse 'This belt is the sole property of Henry Cooper who has won the heavyweight championship of Great Britain three times', flanked by hinged strap work and four oval medallions cast with emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and two enamel plaques of boxers in action, fourteen plaques engraved with championship fight details: 'Harringay Arena 15th March 1937 Ben Food v Tommy Farr won by Tommy Farr on points, Harringay Arena 1st Decemeber 1938 Len Harvey v Eddie Phillips won by Len Harvey in 4 rounds disq.; Belle Vue Manchester 15th September 1944 Jack London v Fred Mills, won by Jack London on points; Tottenham Hotspur Football Ground 17th July 1945 Jack London v Bruce Woodcock won by Brice Woodcock in 6 rounds; White City Stadium London, 2nd June 1949 Bruce Woodcock v Freddy Mills won by Bruce Woodcock in 14th round; Earls Court Stadium 14th November 1950, Bruce Woodcock v Jack Gardner wond by Jack Gardner in 11 rounds; Earls Court Stadium March 11th 1952 Jack Garner v Johnny Williams won by Johnny Williams on points; Harringay Arena 12th May 1953 Johnny Williams v Don Cockell won by Don Cockell on points; Maindy Stadium, Cardiff 27th August 1956 Joe Erskine v Johnny Williams won by Joe Erskine on points; Harringay Arena 17th September 1957 Joe Erskine v Henry Cooper won by Joe Erskine on points; 1958 White City Stadium 3rd June 1958, Joe Erskine v Brian London, won by Brian London in 8 rounds; Earls Court Arena 17th November 1959, Henry Cooper v Joe Erskine won by Henry Cooper in 12 rounds; Earls Court Stadium 12th January 1959 Brian London v Henry Cooper won by Henry Cooper on points; Empire Pool Wembley 21st March 1961, Henry Cooper v Joe Ersline won by Henry Cooper in 5 rounds', complete with red, white and blue ribbon backing and in original velvet lined and leather mounted Mappin & Webb case, the belt 37in (94cm) long

Sold for £49,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

Provenance

Sir Henry Cooper
Sotheby's London, lot 65, 12th July 1993
Private British Collection

Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale (1857-1944), was an avid sportsman and bon vivant and was known by some as "England's greatest sporting gentleman". He was a founding member of the National Sporting Club and he organised boxing matches and introduced the Lonsdale Belt as a new trophy for British champion at each weight division. They were only to be held by a fighter as long as he was British champion however they were allowed to keep the belt if they defended the title successfully twice. A total of twenty two Lonsdale belts were issued by the National Sporting Club of which twenty were won outright.
Lord Lonsdale was a keen follower of the hunt and served as Master of The Quorn from 1893 to 1898. He was also an avid football fan, and was a director and later chairman of Arsenal Football Club and in addition he was founder and first president of the Automobile Association.

Category: Collectibles / Sports Memorabilia

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