Fellows Auction Jack Hood's Lonsdale Belt

As a professional boxer, Welterweight Champion and pub owner, the life of Jack Hood is one laden with success and achievement. Known as 'Gentleman' Jack, for his generous and charismatic persona both in and out of the ring, Hood went on to rule the British Welterweight Division for two decades between the 1920's and 1930's. On 31^st May 1926 Hood defeated Harry Mason over a brutal 20 rounds in Holland Park Rink, Kensington, to win the Lonsdale Belt and take charge of the British Welterweight Title. He then outpointed Mason once again in a rematch just two months later on 22^nd July in the same venue, to retain the title. It then took a further two years for Hood to find someone to challenge him for his British Welterweight Title but on the 25^th June 1928 Hood proved to be too good for Alf Mancini, again being victorious on points. Following his initial win and winning his two successful challenges, in line with Lonsdale rules, Hood became legible to keep his Lonsdale belt outright.

When Hood came to retire in 1935 at the age of 32, he had boxed over 200 bouts, winning his first 187 and losing only six, he was the acclaimed Champion of Great Britain, Europe and the Empire, and he retired as the undefeated and undisputed British Welterweight Champion. Hood's Lonsdale belt is one of the original belts made under the contract of the National Sporting Club, before the changes were made to the design by the British Boxing Board of Control in 1936. This belt was made by Mappin & Webb in Sheffield and is cast in 9ct gold with the original enamelled 'boxers' design.

Stephen Whittaker, Managing Director at Fellows said, "Lonsdale belts are few and far between, they rarely go on sale and it's a special occasion when they do. Jack Hood is one of Birmingham's greatest sporting sons and it is a real honour for us to be putting his Lonsdale belt to auction".

Estimate £15,000 - £20,000.