HISTORY, fans, atmosphere and, most importantly, its fighters have made the United Kingdom a boxing powerhouse in years gone by. Times have become increasingly difficult, however, meaning Old Blighty is on the verge of being left without a male WBC, WBA, WBO or IBF champion for the first time since 1988.
During 2016, Great Britain boasted a phenomenal 14 male world champions. Fast forward nine years, and there is now just one: WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball, 22-0-1 (13 KOs), who fights next weekend.
‘The Wrecking’ Ball captured world honours at the second attempt with a split decision victory over Ray Ford last year. The Liverpudlian has made two defences since, defeating both Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny inside the distance.
Next weekend in Riyadh, Ball is tasked with undefeated Australian Sam Goodman, 20-0 (8 KOs), who recently moved up from the super-bantamweight division. Defeat for Ball would not only be a disaster for him but for British boxing as a whole.
Since Clinton Woods’ light-heavyweight reign in 2005, the United Kingdom has had an active world champion with a recognised organisation (with the WBO finally being recognised by the IBF in 2007) but victory for Goodman would put an end to this run.
SELECTED OVERLAPPING REIGNS (WBO INC. FROM 2007)
- Nick Ball (WBA Featherweight): 6/6/24 – Present
- Chris Billam-Smith (WBO Cruiserweight): 27/5/23 – 16/11/24
- Lawrence Okolie (WBO Cruiserweight): 20/2/21 – 27/5/23
- Billy Joe Saunders (WBO Super-Middleweight): 18/5/19 – 8/5/21
- Anthony Joshua (IBF Heavyweight): 9/4/16 – 1/6/19
- Kell Brook (IBF Welterweight): 16/8/14 – 27/5/17
- Carl Froch (IBF Super-Middleweight): 26/5/12 – 3/2/15
- Nathan Cleverly (WBO Cruiserweight): 19/5/11 – 17/8/13
- Carl Froch (WBC Super-Middleweight): 27/11/10 – 17/12/11
- David Haye (WBA Heavyweight): 7/11/09 – 2/7/11
- Carl Froch (WBC Super-Middleweight): 6/7/08 – 24/4/10
- Alex Arthur (WBO Super-Featherweight): 15/5/08 – 6/9/08
- Joe Calzaghe (WBC Super-Middleweight): 3/11/07 – 28/6/08
- Junior Witter (WBC Super-Lightweight): 15/9/06 – 10/5/08
- Clinton Woods (IBF Light-Heavyweight): 4/3/05 – 12/4/08
Meanwhile, suppose we include the entirety of the WBO’s existence. In that case, the U.K. has held at least one of the currently recognised male world titles throughout the last 37 years, dating back to Lloyd Honeyghan’s third-round knockout of Jorge Vaca for the WBC welterweight crown in 1988.
SELECTED OVERLAPPING REIGNS (WBO INC. SINCE 1988)
- Nick Ball (WBA Featherweight): 6/6/24 – Present
- Chris Billam-Smith (WBO Cruiserweight): 27/5/23 – 16/11/24
- Lawrence Okolie (WBO Cruiserweight): 20/2/21 – 27/5/23
- Billy Joe Saunders (WBO Super-Middleweight): 18/5/19 – 8/5/21
- Anthony Joshua (IBF Heavyweight): 9/4/16 – 1/6/19
- Kell Brook (IBF Welterweight): 16/8/14 – 27/5/17
- Carl Froch (IBF Super-Middleweight): 26/5/12 – 3/2/15
- Nathan Cleverly (WBO Cruiserweight): 19/5/11 – 17/8/13
- Carl Froch (WBC Super-Middleweight): 27/11/10 – 17/12/11
- David Haye (WBA Heavyweight): 7/11/09 – 2/7/11
- Carl Froch (WBC Super-Middleweight): 6/7/08 – 24/4/10
- Joe Calzaghe (WBO Super-Middleweight): 11/10/97 – 26/9/08
- Naseem Hamed (WBO Featherweight): 30/9/95 – 5/10/00
- Nigel Benn (WBC Super-Middleweight): 3/10/92 – 2/3/96
- Paul Hodkinson (WBC Featherweight): 13/11/91 – 28/4/93
- Dave McAuley (IBF Flyweight): 7/6/89 – 11/6/92
- Duke McKenzie (IBF Flyweight): 5/10/88 – 7/6/89
- Lloyd Honeyghan (WBC Welterweight): 29/3/88 – 4/2/89
With the pressure ramping up on Nick Ball to retain, he may soon have some welcome company as Northern Irish welterweight Lewis Crocker, 21-0 (11 KOs), rematches Ireland’s Paddy Donovan on Saturday, September 13, with the vacant IBF welterweight world title up for grabs.
Meanwhile, undefeated Kent lightweight Sam Noakes, 17-0 (15 KOs), collides with Abdullah Mason in a bout to crown a WBO lightweight world champion in late November. Sheffield super-lightweight Dalton Smith, 18-0 (13 KOs), is also expected to challenge for world honours on the undercard.
Additionally, Liverpool lefty Jazza Dickens, 36-5 (15 KOs), is currently in possession of the WBA Interim super-featherweight world title and could soon be elevated to full world champion, once current titlist Lamont Roach Jr. confirms his rematch with lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis.
However, it is unlikely that Dickens will be upgraded before next Saturday, meaning Great Britain’s run of world champions will rest solely on the broad shoulders of Nick Ball, when he goes toe-to-toe with Goodman in 11 days’ time in Saudi Arabia.
