AN EARLY AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN GOLD, SILVER, ENAMEL & JEWELLED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING BELT BY R.T. HEWITSON & Co., BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DATING TO

AN EARLY AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN GOLD, SILVER, ENAMEL & JEWELLED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING BELT BY R.T. HEWITSON & Co., BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DATING TO 1887 The Holske International Challenge Belt for the Light Weight Champion of the World, one of two awarded, this example presented to the British boxer Jem Carney after the drawn gloved bout under Queensberry Rules with Jack McAuliffe at Revere Beach, Massachusetts, 16th November 1887, the central panel set with a locket containing a photographic portrait of Jem Carney, inscribed E C H [E C HOLSKE], HOLSKE INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE BELT, LIGHT HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, and surrounded by a globe, enamelled flags and other motifs including an American eagle, flanked by niches containing figures of boxers overseen by further eagles resting on laurel wreaths, the articulated belt panels engraved JEM CARNEY, BEAT, JIMMY MITCHELL, 11 RDS., 41 MIN. 40 SDS., NEW YORK, JUNE 17, 1887; JAMES CARNEY, RECEIVED FORFEIT FROM JACK McAULIFFE, APRIL 5 1887, JACK McAULIFFE, BEAT, HARRY GILMORE, 28 ROUNDS, TIME 1 H. 51 M., JAN. 14 1887; JEM CARNEY, FOUGHT, JACK McAULIFFE, NOV 16th 1887 FOR $2,500 ASIDE, 72 ROUNDS, TIME 4 HOURS 5 MINUTES, WHEN McAULIFFE BEING BEATEN , HIS PARTY BROKE INTO THE RING, ROBBING CARNEY OF THE FIGHT, WHICH WAS DECLARED A DRAW, fully extended length 94cm., 37in.; sold together with a file relating to the history & provenance of the belt including a receipt for its sale to an English collector in 1949, a signed related letter from Nat Fleischer on The Ring headed paper, a bill for repair and an insurance valuation prepared by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd of London in 1948 & press cuttings; the lot also including Nat Fleischer's book Jack McAuliffe, The Napoleon of the Prize Ring Jem Carney was born in Birmingham, England, 5th November 1856 to Irish parents and began his boxing career in 1878. The 5ft. 5in. lightweight became the English champion in 1884 by beating Jake Hyams after a 45 rounds bout that lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. Previously he had toured the USA in 1881 engaging in exhibition matches in Boston, Philadelphia and at the Bowery in New York City. In 1887 Carney returned to America and beat Jimmy Mitchell over 11 rounds in Long Island Sound. Thereafter he fought his most famous fight against Jack McAuliffe, a grueling 74 rounds contest in Revere, MA. Queensberry Rules were observed and kid gloves were used and the fight was declared a draw after McAuliffe's supporters managed to get the match stopped after 3 hours and 40 minutes. Most commentators had Carney with the advantage at the time. Carney retired from boxing when he lost his English lightweight title to Dick Burge in 1891. In retirement he took a position as the personal bodyguard for the keen sportsman & boxing aficionado George Alexander Baird, who had inherited ?3million at the age of nine. Carney died in London 8th September 1941. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006. E C Holske, who gave his name to the present belt, had been an American champion walker before entering the world of boxing as a referee in the Boston area. He oversaw the Carney v McAuliffe fight.