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British Boxing Board of Control

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British Boxing Board of Control
SportBoxing
AbbreviationBBBofC
Founded1929[1]
LocationCardiff
ReplacedNational Sporting Club
Official website
bbbofc.com
United Kingdom

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom.[2]

History

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The British Boxing Board of Control was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.

Until 1948, it had a colour bar in effect by means of its Rule 24, which stated that title contestants "must have two white parents".[3][4]

The British Boxing Board of Control initially refused to grant Jane Couch a professional licence on the sole ground that she was a woman, and argued that PMS made women too unstable to box.[5][6] Claiming sexual discrimination and supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission, Couch managed to have this decision overturned by a tribunal in March 1998.[7][8]

The British Boxing Board of Control gives out the British Boxer of the Year award. Natasha Jonas became the first woman to win this award upon winning it for the year of 2022.[9] Later, in 2023, Jonas became the first black woman to receive a manager's license from the British Boxing Board of Control.[10][11]

Councils

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The Board divides the country into seven Area Councils: the Scottish Area, the Northern Ireland Area, the Welsh Area, the Northern Area, the Central Area (including the Isle of Man), the Southern Area, and the Midlands Area.[12] There was previously a Western Area, which was merged with the Southern Area.[citation needed]

Lonsdale Belt

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Main article: Lonsdale Belt

The Board also sanctions bouts for British boxing's most prestigious title: the Lonsdale Belt. The Lonsdale Belt is awarded to the champion of the United Kingdom in each respective weight class and to win the belt outright it must be defended against a British challenger on at least three occasions.

Scoring

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The Board is known for its unique scoring system. Except for title fights (where the bout is scored by three judges, none of whom serve as fight referee), the referee is the sole scorer. After the bout (if the fight goes to points decision), the referee hands his decision to the MC and the winner is announced, the referee then raising the arm of the winner – or, in the event of a draw, both boxers' arms.

Current champions

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Male

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Weight class: Champion: Reign began:
Heavyweight Fabio Wardley 26 November 2022
Cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke 25 May 2024
Light-heavyweight Lewis Edmondson 19 October 2024
Super-middleweight Callum Simpson 3 August 2024
Middleweight Brad Pauls 20 July 2024
Super-welterweight Samuel Antwi 1 September 2023
Welterweight Harry Scarff 18 November 2023
Super-lightweight Dalton Smith 6 August 2022
Lightweight Sam Noakes 10 February 2024
Super-featherweight Reece Bellotti 10 February 2024
Featherweight Nathaniel Collins 10 March 2023
Super-bantamweight Dennis McCann 16 March 2024
Bantamweight Andrew Cain 20 July 2024
Super-flyweight Marcel Braithwaite 20 October 2023
Flyweight Jay Harris 5 May 2023

Female

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Weight class: Champion: Reign began:
Welterweight vacant
Super-bantamweight Tysie Gallagher 24 May 2024
Super-flyweight Emma Dolan 22 June 2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gems, Gerald R. (13 March 2014). Boxing. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442229914. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Sport | Round one for women's boxing". BBC News. 24 November 1998. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Manchester - People - The uncrownable champion". BBC. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. ^ JOHNES, MARTIN; TAYLOR, MATTHEW (14 February 2020). "BOXING, RACE, AND BRITISH IDENTITY, 1945–1962" (PDF). The Historical Journal. 63 (5). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 1349–1377. doi:10.1017/s0018246x19000724. ISSN 0018-246X. S2CID 213844092.
  5. ^ "Round one for women's boxing". BBC News. 24 November 1998. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  6. ^ Bentham, John (February 1998). "12 and 13 February 1998 – Tribunal 1, 100 London Road, Croydon, UK". #4. Punkcast. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  7. ^ "March: Jane Couch". BBC News. 22 December 1998. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  8. ^ "Couch Interview". 19 September 1999. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Natasha Jonas becomes first woman to win British Boxer of the Year at British Boxing Board of Control awards". Sky Sports.
  10. ^ Onyango, Miriam (20 October 2023). "Natasha Jonas Makes History As First UK Black Woman Boxing Manager". Sports Illustrated Boxing News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  11. ^ https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2023-10-16/natasha-jonas-bcomes-first-black-female-to-obtain-boxing-manager-license
  12. ^ "British Boxing Board of Control". BBBofC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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