Championship belt: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Large belt used to signify a champion}} |
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[[Image:Wikibelt.jpg|200px|right]] |
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{{Refimprove|date=October 2015}} |
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A ''' |
A '''championship belt''' is a large, extravagantly designed [[belt (clothing)|belt]] used primarily in combat sports such as [[boxing]], [[mixed martial arts]], and [[professional wrestling]] to signify the champions of the promotion or company, much like a cup or trophy in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts. |
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==Early history== |
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The first belt given as a prize for accomplishments within the ring was presented in 1810 by [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] to [[Bare-knuckle boxing|bare-knuckle]] boxer [[Tom Cribb]], after he defeated [[Tom Molineaux]], an American who was possibly a former slave.<ref>{{cite book |
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| last1 = Fitzgerald |
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| first1 = Mike |
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| last2 = Hudson |
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| first2 = David |
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| year = 2004 |
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| title = Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas |
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| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=b9cIRPetE88C&q=%22Jack+Broughton%22+belt&pg=PA1939 |
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| publisher = Potomac Books |
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| page = 1939 |
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| accessdate = 2015-10-20 |
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| isbn = 9781612340319 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Boxing== |
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In boxing, the individual organizations such as the [[World Boxing Council]], The [[World Boxing Association]], the [[International Boxing Federation]] and the [[World Boxing Organization]] each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each weight class. Boxers, especially the [[World Championships|World Champions]], strive to win the belt of all 4 organizations to unify their weight divisions. |
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[[File:WBA CHAMPIONSHIP BELT cropped.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Belt.]] |
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In boxing, the individual organizations such as the [[World Boxing Council]] (WBC), the [[World Boxing Association]] (WBA), the [[International Boxing Federation]] (IBF), and the [[World Boxing Organization]] (WBO) each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each [[weight class (boxing)|weight class]]. Boxers strive to win the belt of all four organizations to unify their weight divisions. ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' also created a championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class". |
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Champions maintain permanent possession of these belts even upon losing their title, with a new belt made when a new champion is crowned. |
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===Weight Divisions=== |
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==Professional wrestling== |
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There are numerous [[Boxing weight classes]] within the sport, with there being minor discrepancies amongst the different governing bodies. The weight classes are. |
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[[File:Sting flair big gold.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Ric Flair]] holding a replica of the [[Big Gold Belt]], which represented six different [[Professional wrestling championship|championships]]]] |
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{{main|Professional wrestling championship}} |
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One of [[professional wrestling]]'s first world championships was the [[World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship]] which was created in 1875. The [[American Heavyweight Championship]] was created in 1881 as [[catch wrestling]] became the dominant style in the US. The historic [[World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship]] was created in 1905 to identify the best catch as catch can wrestler in the world. These championships were originally contested for in legitimate matches until the sport's gradual shift to predetermined works in the 1920s. |
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Modern day professional wrestling is a form of entertainment which combines athletics and theatrical performance in a mimicry of combat sports. Many storylines center around the [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion's]] [[Professional wrestling championship|championships]], which are represented by championship belts similar to those in boxing. The top title in a major promotion is usually designated a "world heavyweight championship". Other, lesser championships may carry regional names, be limited to a specific weight class, or be defended in other special circumstances, such as the traditional tag team match. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!Weight !! [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] !! [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] !! [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] !! [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] !! [[Boxrec.com|BoxRec]] |
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|- |
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|201+ lb (91.4+ kg) || [[Heavyweight]] || Heavyweight || Heavyweight || Heavyweight || Heavyweight |
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|- |
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|176 to 200 lb (90.7 kg) || [[Cruiserweight]] || Cruiserweight || Cruiserweight || [[Junior heavyweight]] || Cruiserweight |
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|- |
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|169 to 175 lb (79.4 kg) || [[Light heavyweight]] || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight |
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|- |
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|161 to 168 lb (76.2 kg) || [[Super middleweight]] || Super middleweight || Super middleweight || Super middleweight || Super middleweight |
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|- |
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|155 to 160 lb (72.6 kg) || [[Middleweight]] || Middleweight || Middleweight || Middleweight || Middleweight |
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|- |
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|148 to 154 lb (69.9 kg) || [[Super welterweight]] || Super welterweight || [[Junior middleweight]] || Junior middleweight || [[Light middleweight]] |
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|- |
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|141 to 147 lb (66.7 kg) || [[Welterweight]] || Welterweight || Welterweight || Welterweight || Welterweight |
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|- |
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|136 to 140 lb (63.5 kg) || [[Super lightweight]] || Super lightweight || [[Junior welterweight]] || Junior welterweight || [[Light welterweight]] |
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|- |
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|131 to 135 lb (61.2 kg) || [[Lightweight]] || Lightweight || Lightweight || Lightweight || Lightweight |
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|- |
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|127 to 130 lb (59.0 kg) || [[Super featherweight]] || Super featherweight || [[Junior lightweight]] || Junior lightweight || Super featherweight |
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|- |
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|123 to 126 lb (57.2 kg) || [[Featherweight]] || Featherweight || Featherweight || Featherweight || Featherweight |
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|- |
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|119 to 122 lb (55.3 kg) || [[Super bantamweight]] || Super bantamweight || [[Junior featherweight]] || Junior featherweight || Super bantamweight |
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|- |
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|116 to 118 lb (53.5 kg) || [[Bantamweight]] || Bantamweight || Bantamweight || Bantamweight || Bantamweight |
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|- |
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|113 to 115 lb (52.2 kg) || [[Super flyweight]] || Super flyweight || [[Junior bantamweight]] || Junior bantamweight || Super flyweight |
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|- |
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|109 to 112 lb (50.8 kg) || [[Flyweight]] || Flyweight || Flyweight || Flyweight || Flyweight |
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|- |
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|106 to 108 lb (49.0 kg) || [[Light flyweight]] || Light flyweight || [[Junior flyweight]] || Junior flyweight || Light flyweight |
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|- |
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|96 to 105 lb (47.6 kg) || [[Minimumweight]] || [[Strawweight]] || [[Mini flyweight]] || Mini flyweight || Minimumweight |
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|- |
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|} |
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Typically, pro wrestling title belts have a unique design for each title, in contrast with boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) where the title belts of a given sanctioning body are all the same design. The [[Big Gold Belt]] design, for example, is very recognizable and has been used by various wrestling promotions since the 1980s. |
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==Professional Wrestling== |
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{{cleanup-section}} |
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{{main|Championship (professional wrestling)}} |
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Unlike Professional Boxing, [[Professional Wrestling]] has numerous World Champions and even more regionalized and specialized Championship Belts. The generally recognized World Championship Belts are those of [[World Wrestling Entertainment]], The [[National Wrestling Alliance]], and to a lesser extent [[Ring Of Honor]].The National Wrestling Alliance recognizes numerous regional Championship Belts such as The NWA North American Championship and The NWA British Commonwealth Championship. World Wrestling Entertainment currently has 2 Champions. The [[WWE Championship]] is the main championship belt of it's [[WWE RAW|RAW]] brand and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] is the main championship belt of the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown!|SmackDown!]] brand. Both brands also have their own separate tag team Championship Belts and each has a lesser belt. The RAW brand has the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] and Smackdown has the [[WWE United States Championship|United States Championship]] |
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In 2016, [[WWE]] began to streamline their championships, making their top male and female championships have the same design, similar to boxing and MMA. The only differences between them are the colors (to represent if the title belongs to either the [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] or [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]]), the name on the belt, and the women's belts are smaller. The tag team championships also have the same design between each other with the only difference being the color of the straps. |
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===Weight classes=== |
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Unlike boxing, which has 14 recognized weight classes, professional wrestling generally only has 2. The Heavyweight title and the Cruiserweight/Light Heavyweight title belt. The "weight limit" varies with the Cruiserweight/Light heavyweight divisions depending on the wrestling promotion. The [[WWE]] uses 230 lb as it's purposed Cruiserweight limit. Generally speaking, the Cruiserweight/Light Heavyweight belt is often treated as a secondary belt, despite having "World Title" status. |
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==Mixed martial arts== |
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===Specialized Championship Belts=== |
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[[File:UFC Championship Belt.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The former [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] [[Heavyweight (MMA)|heavyweight]] championship belt]] |
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Professional Wrestling also has numerous specialty championship belts. The most well known ones are the now defunct [[WWE Hardcore Championship]], The [[NWA World Television Championship]] and the [[ROH Pure Championship]]. TNA Wrestling dropped the cruiserweight title and went with the [[TNA X Division Championship]] , considering it an open weight title. These belts would be contested under different rules and stipulations to make the championship more unique. |
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[[Mixed martial arts]] generally follows the boxing model of each sanctioning group, which is also a promotion, awarding its champion in each [[Mixed martial arts weight classes|weight class]] a championship belt. As in boxing, the design of each promotion's belts are the same regardless of weight class, and the champion keeps their belt after losing the title. |
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===Designs=== |
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Generally, wrestling has many more uniquely designed belts than boxing. The 4 major boxing governing bodies generally use the same belt design for all their champions, whereas wrestling companies use different styles for each Championship. The most notable exception is Japan's [[Pro Wrestling NOAH]], who's belts follow one specific design. Beltmakers such as Reggie Parks and Dave Millican often create belts that not only set the Championships apart from the others, but become huge collector items as well. |
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==Motorsports== |
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===Belt Collecting=== |
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The [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]] has often used a championship belt for some race winners in lieu of a traditional trophy, owing to combat sport in the city. |
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Collecting of Championship Belts has become a very specialized, if not expensive hobby. Many Championship Belts have become collector items over the years as much for their designs as the history behind that particular belt. Champonship Belts from the 1980's especially are very sought after by collectors. |
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==Other sports== |
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== External links == |
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[[File:Young Tom Morris.jpg|thumb|right|[[Young Tom Morris|Tom Morris, Jr.]] wearing the [[Challenge Belt]]]] |
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Historically, championship belts were also awarded to the winner of professional golf tournaments. [[Rodeo]] tournaments also award special belts, among other prizes. |
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==References== |
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*[http://www.midwestwrestling.com/Beltentrance.htm Reggie Parks Belts!] |
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{{Reflist}} |
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*[http://www.davemillicanbelts.com Dave Millican Belts] |
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*[http://www.wrestlingbeltworld.com Wrestling Beltworld] |
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{{Boxing}} |
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[[Category:Sports trophies and awards]] |
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{{Professional wrestling terms}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Championship Belt}} |
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[[Category:Boxing awards|+]] |
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[[Category:Mixed martial arts awards|+]] |
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[[Category:Professional wrestling championships|+]] |
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[[Category:Award items]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:03, 2 July 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2015) |
A championship belt is a large, extravagantly designed belt used primarily in combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, and professional wrestling to signify the champions of the promotion or company, much like a cup or trophy in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts.
Early history
[edit]The first belt given as a prize for accomplishments within the ring was presented in 1810 by King George III to bare-knuckle boxer Tom Cribb, after he defeated Tom Molineaux, an American who was possibly a former slave.[1]
Boxing
[edit]
In boxing, the individual organizations such as the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each weight class. Boxers strive to win the belt of all four organizations to unify their weight divisions. The Ring also created a championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class".
Champions maintain permanent possession of these belts even upon losing their title, with a new belt made when a new champion is crowned.
Professional wrestling
[edit]
One of professional wrestling's first world championships was the World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship which was created in 1875. The American Heavyweight Championship was created in 1881 as catch wrestling became the dominant style in the US. The historic World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was created in 1905 to identify the best catch as catch can wrestler in the world. These championships were originally contested for in legitimate matches until the sport's gradual shift to predetermined works in the 1920s.
Modern day professional wrestling is a form of entertainment which combines athletics and theatrical performance in a mimicry of combat sports. Many storylines center around the promotion's championships, which are represented by championship belts similar to those in boxing. The top title in a major promotion is usually designated a "world heavyweight championship". Other, lesser championships may carry regional names, be limited to a specific weight class, or be defended in other special circumstances, such as the traditional tag team match.
Typically, pro wrestling title belts have a unique design for each title, in contrast with boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) where the title belts of a given sanctioning body are all the same design. The Big Gold Belt design, for example, is very recognizable and has been used by various wrestling promotions since the 1980s.
In 2016, WWE began to streamline their championships, making their top male and female championships have the same design, similar to boxing and MMA. The only differences between them are the colors (to represent if the title belongs to either the Raw or SmackDown brand), the name on the belt, and the women's belts are smaller. The tag team championships also have the same design between each other with the only difference being the color of the straps.
Mixed martial arts
[edit]
Mixed martial arts generally follows the boxing model of each sanctioning group, which is also a promotion, awarding its champion in each weight class a championship belt. As in boxing, the design of each promotion's belts are the same regardless of weight class, and the champion keeps their belt after losing the title.
Motorsports
[edit]The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has often used a championship belt for some race winners in lieu of a traditional trophy, owing to combat sport in the city.
Other sports
[edit]
Historically, championship belts were also awarded to the winner of professional golf tournaments. Rodeo tournaments also award special belts, among other prizes.
References
[edit]- ^ Fitzgerald, Mike; Hudson, David (2004). Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas. Potomac Books. p. 1939. ISBN 9781612340319. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
