A 9ct gold and enamel National Sporting Club Welter Weight Championship Challenge Belt awarded...

A 9ct gold and enamel National Sporting Club Welter Weight Championship Challenge Belt awarded to Jack Hood in 1926. The belt decorated with five 9ct yellow and rose gold cast oval plaques made by Mappin & Webb, the central enamelled plaque depicting a boxing match below the Royal coat of arms for the United Kingdom and above an English rose with oak leaf and scroll border, flanked by two rose roundels, two smaller enamelled plaques depicting a boxer training and two further plaques engraved 'MAY 31ST 1926 JACK HOOD DEFEATED HARRY MASON 20 ROUNDS' and 'JULY 22nd 1926 JACK HOOD DEFEATED HARRY MASON 20 ROUNDS'. The belt is supported on a red, white and blue material backing. The central plaque measuring 17 cm by 14 cm and the smaller plaques 10 cm by 8.5 cm, gross weight 1119.5 grams. To include digital copies of photographs and associated memorabilia.

As a professional boxer, Welterweight Champion and pub owner, the life of Jack Hood is one laden with success and achievement. Born in Birmingham in 1902 and 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, his accomplishments include over 200 professional bouts, one Lonsdale belt, an undefeated six month period fighting in America and a bout ordered by Royal Command of the Prince of Wales.

On 31st 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 22nd 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 25th 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 eligible to keep his Lonsdale belt outright.

When Hood came to retire in 1935 at the age of 32, he was the acclaimed Champion of Great Britain, Europe and the Empire, and he retired as the undefeated and undisputed British Welterweight Champion. Hood only fought once more after his retirement in 1935, at an exhibition in 1947 at the age of 44. It was also for his second life as a pub owner where many remember him. His Lonsdale belt was displayed proudly over the bar at the Bell in Tanworth -in-Arden for 32 years where 'Gentleman' Jack would reminisce with boxing followers and regulars alike who would come from far and wide to meet the man. When he would be asked about his days as a boxer Jack would always reply with "No regrets, I'd do it all again".

Fellows has a history of auctioning boxing memorabilia and in particular Lonsdale belts. In November 2000, Fellows auctioned the Randolph Turpin 1956 Lonsdale Belt for £23,000.