Considerations before Vegas

ArmFight #40

13.01.2012 - USA, Las Vegas

I look at the champions’ belts as a combat sports fan and an artist. The first belt I saw live, one of the first gained in the Polish professional boxing – it was the year... the previous century! Then I had the honour of presenting winners with some of the belts personally. Those were the days. My sports excitement is always accompanied by the soul of an artist, and so I always looked at these awards as they were works of art. I do not go over the top!

They are the works of art! Why? Because their aim is to show emotions appearing on the way to the champion’s title. No matter if they are twelve rounds of the professional boxing, two or three rounds of the MMA on six rounds of the ArmFight #40, there are always fans, competitors, trainers, referees’ emotions all over the world.

All over the world. That is why, an artist who designs a belt has to be aware that it may go to as well Kamchatka as Africa. Everywhere. Here, in this case, Ukraine or the USA. Wherever it will be put on its seat of honour, its artistic expression must sink in every recipient. It is a tough task. Relatively small amount of attention is paid to champions’ belts in combat sports, in comparison to Olympic medals, which are always presented in a special way. It’s about time to change it!

Have you ever wondered why belts are what the combat sports champions presented with? In my (humble) opinion the prototype of the Professional boxing champion’s belt is the belt with revolver holsters worn on the Wild West, a symbol of the masculinity, courage, strength and all other features essential in combat sports.

The two hundredth anniversary of appearance of the belts as the awards in professional boxing took place recently. The first belt was gained by Tom Cribb, a competitor fighting with bare hands in 1811. Tom Cribb was recognized the World Champion in Great Britain till 1822.

The interesting is also the belt that was presented John Sullivan in 1889 after the fight with Jack Kilrain, which had seventy-five [!] rounds. It was embellished with 397 brilliants and is regarded to be the prototype of today’s champions’ belts.

In a few days, in Las Vegas the winner of the fight for the Intercontinental Champion Title will be presented with a belt you see in the photo. The crown being the finial of the central part resolves doubts that the one who is wearing the belt is the King of Armfight. It is a symbol recognized at every latitude and longitude. The eagle surrounding the PAL sign – predatory, proud, brave, strong, being a symbol of power and authority in almost every iconography, dedicated to authority and crest, an obvious symbol. Braided hands on the sides to make everyone know in what kind of fight it was won. Heavy, slightly patinated gold of the adornments, emphasized by the deep red of the leather. And red is the colour of courage. A proud, dignified and heroic colour.

On whose wall of fame will this belt be hung? Will it be Andrey Pushkar form Ukraine or Michael Todd’s from the USA wall? Let’s wait till the 13th January 2011.

PeSzy