Anthony Crolla vs Jorge Linares: What is the Ring Magazine belt and how do you win it?
There will be three belts on the line on Saturday at the Manchester Arena as popular Crolla takes to the ring
AS WELL as the WBA lightweight world title, there are two other belts up for grabs on Saturday as Anthony Crolla fights Jorge Linares.
One is the WBC Diamond title, and the other is the Ring Magazine title.
Linares holds the WBC Diamond belt, due to him having to give up the WBC world title through injury.
The Diamond Belt is usually handed to the winner of a historic fight between two boxers. On Saturday, that could be passed over to Crolla.
The other belt, and one with heaps of history behind it, is the Ring Magazine belt.
History of The Ring Magazine belt
This belt was first awarded by the magazine called The Ring, to heayweight boxer Jack Dempsey back in 1922. The Ring Champion is said to hold a linear reign to the throne, as it is given to “the man who beat the man,” that is the winner of the best two fighters.
How many Ring belts are there?
There are Ring Champions in every weight class of boxing. But often the Ring Champion will not necessarily be the unified governing bodies champion.
Why have a Ring belt?
The organisation believes that the boxing governing bodies often pit “underserving” fighters in with the champions. It claims the Ring Champion is the best of the best. The magazine has number one and number two boxers in each category, and should these two fight, the winner will be named the Ring Champion.
Tale of the tape: Anthony Crolla vs Jorge Linares
Anthony Crolla
Fights – 38
Won – 31 (13 KOs)
Lost – 4
Drew – 3
Jorge Linares
Fights – 43
Won – 40 (27 KOs)
Lost – 3
But some of the Ring Champions are not number one or two?
Should either the top-ranked or second top-ranked fighter refuse to meet for any reason, The Ring Magazine will award the belt down the line, that is to say if the third, fourth or fifth ranked fighter, steps up to fight the champ, they can win the Ring belt too.
How can you lose the Ring title?
There are six ways you can lose the belt if you: lose a fight in his championship weight class; move to another weight class; not schedule a fight in any weight class for 18 months; not schedule a fight in his championship weight class for 18 months, even if fighting at another weight class; not scheduling a fight with a top five contender in any weight class for two years; or retiring.
What does Anthony Crolla think of The Ring Magazine title?
“I’ll be joining an elite club of fighters. I’d be the first Englishman – and I know we’ve had two great Scotsman do it in the shape of Jim Watt and Ken Buchananan who have held that and it is so prestigious, Crolla told Sky Sports.
“You don’t get more prestigious than winning a Ring belt and to win that is something. I get goose-bumps just thinking about it but they are the belts I want to bring home and wake up on Sunday morning with them.”
Did you know?
Tyson Fury is the current Ring Champion for the heavyweight division after his historic victory against Wladimir Klitschko last year.