When the fighter retires with a championship belt, they get to keep it. Champions get their old belts even if they lose a bout, or are stripped of their title, but the belt is theirs to keep after retirement.
Just like in any other field, you get to keep your diplomas, certificates, and trophies. Retired champions are given their belts as trophies to keep and remember their legendary fighting journeys.
Fighters such as Bas Rutten, Henry Cujedo, and the all-time famous Khabib do keep their championship belts after retiring from UFC. These fighters had a tremendous career and wanted to keep their belts as memories of what they’d achieved in their past. All MMA and boxing combatants keep their championship belts after retiring.
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What Happens if a Boxer Retires With a Championship Belt?
No one can take away the belt once you’ve earned it
When a fighter decides to retire while he has the championship belt, the committee will give the fighter the championship belt. However, a new fight will be scheduled between new contenders and that fight will determine a new champion.
No one can take the belt away from you once you have earned it in your career. It will go home with you once you retire. Either you lose the belt, or even your title is stripped off. This is to keep the legacy of the fighter alive.
Once you own a belt, you own some part of the history of that sport. If the retired boxers weren’t given their belts, they would have minimal proof to show the world that they were once the champion of a format.
Once you’ve retired, the new champion would have to win the title, and he or she will get their belt, but you will keep yours for a lifetime as that’s your reward.
Also Read: Requirements To Get Black Belt: Do You Need To Fight & Spar?
How Much Is a Boxing Belt Worth?
These belts can value up to a whopping $300,000. There’s no denying the fact that championship belts are made of pure gold for the champions. However, some of the most luxurious belts are known to be worth more than several hundred thousand American dollars, making them extremely costly.
Belts are made with pure gold to increase their importance, as they are more valued. Genuine things are always valued more. One of the most famous, Money Belt, had 3,360 diamonds and several other valuable gemstones. It is one of the most expensive belts ever made.
Do You Get a New Belt Every Time You Defend It?
You may lose the title but the belt is yours
Fighters do get a new belt every time they defend it. They’re pretty expensive, but the fighters who defend them surely own them too. It’s their reward and no one can take it away from them. Whether it’s World Boxing Council (WBC), (WBO), (IBF), or (WBA), the champions will have their astonishing belts regardless of their weight class.
Fighters such as Floyd Mayweather in UFC have won several belts in their career. Boxers such as Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali have been champions too. Winning one title is a tremendous milestone, but some of the most remarkable fighters have even won 2 titles, but becoming a champion in 3 different weight classes is surely unimaginable.
However, you don’t get a new belt every time you defend it in UFC. You get one belt when you become the champion, if you fail to defend it, the opponent gets a new belt. Either you win or lose, you get to keep your belt, but the title is stripped away.
Do Fighters Keep Their Belts After Losing?
Fighters keep their belts even after losing
Fighters do get to keep their belts even after losing the title. The title may be stripped off when you have lost a fight, but your belt will always be yours. The fighters keep their physical belts but not their future status, as that is given to the person who has won the title from them or any other fighter.
Losing the title, and the belt are two different things. Championship belts can cost thousands of dollars, and it is the reward of the champions who have once won it. These belts are trophies to take home. No matter if it’s UFC or Boxing, the champion gets to keep his belt even after losing.
Also Read: Pros & Cons To Start Boxing At All Ages: What’s Too Old Or Young
FAQs
Q: Do Boxers Have to Pay For Their Belts?
Boxers do have to pay a sanctioning fee every time they receive a belt. It’s called a sanctioning fee. One of the most successful fighters of all time, Floyd Mayweather mentioned on a show that a fighter has to pay for every belt they win
The fee can range from $800 to $3000 or more. However, it is nothing when compared to the actual worth of the championship belt, as it can cost several hundred thousand American dollars.
Q: What Happens When a Boxer Holds All Belts?
‘Undisputed Champion’ is the term used when a boxer holds all the titles or belts in one division. It is the major reason we hear the word undisputed when talking about legendary fighters who have held all the belts in one division.
It is extremely rare and tough to achieve. Very few fighters in the history of the sport have managed to call themselves undisputed. Organizations usually want you to fight contenders in their rank.
Q: How Many Belts Can a Boxer Hold?
A boxer can hold a total of four belts to be known as an undisputed fighter who has won all the titles. The four major championship belts are IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO. The four-belt era began back in 2004. However, there hasn’t been an undisputed heavyweight champion since as it is extremely tough to become one.
It was in 1999 when Lennox Lewis became the undisputed heavyweight champion. He gained immense fame and success and is considered one of the finest boxers in history.
In women’s boxing, there are more undisputed champions. There are a total of three undisputed champions in women’s lightweight, Katie Taylor, Jessica McCaskill in welterweight, and Claressa Shields in middleweight.
