Lonsdale Belt

The Lonsdale Belt is the oldest and most prestigious championship belt awarded in within UK boxing. It was first issued by the National Sporting Club in 1909 and is named after Lord Lonsdale, the NSC's patron at the time. A Lonsdale Belt is awarded to the champion within each weight class.

This Lonsdale Belt was the first bantamweight belt awarded and was won by Digger Stanley in 1910. It was later awarded to Bugler Harry Lake in February 1923, and later to Johnny Brown (1902-1974) in November 1923. Johnny Brown defended his title twice in 1925, and with these three successive victories within two years, he won his Lonsdale Belt outright.

Johnny Brown was born Philip Heckman in the East End of London, one of six children of an immigrant Jewish family. His father died when he was 12. He boxed at the Oxford and St George's Club in Whitechapel where he became an amateur champion at 13. At 15 he turned professional to help his mother support the family.

Jewish boxers dominated British boxing in the1920s and 1930s, with many holding titles. Johnny Brown was the only Jewish fighter ever to win a Lonsdale Belt outright.

After a career of just over 100 bouts, Brown retired in 1928 and emigrated to South Africa where he was successful in business with his wife, Minnie. He and Minnie had met in New York in 1923 and married just six weeks after meeting. Their marriage lasted for 50 years.