World Champion Tyson Fury attended the fights and helped show off the belt with Burt
From, Bare Knuckle Boxing
At the request of BKB owner Mike Vazquez, Police Gazette Corporation and Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame President Scott Burt of Belfast, New York, was honored by having his portrait included on the Diamond Belt for his 20 some-odd years of dedication to the sport, the fighters, and the re-invention and popularization of the legendary belt from now on. This follows a long tradition in the history of the sport of boxing. The new belt was unveiled on stage at the weigh-ins earlier this week in Miami.
“I am honored beyond words. Having portraits on belts of those significant to the sport is a big part of the history of boxing. My predecessor Richard K. Fox, the original founder of the illegal Police Gazette Bare Knuckle Diamond Belt, is portrayed on both the PG belts and medallions of the 1880s. The Lonsdale Belt, introduced in 1909 by the National Sporting Club was redesigned in 1929 to carry the center piece depicting the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, Hugh Cecil Lowther, the first president of the NSC, and is still on it today. In modern day history, the WBC Belt contains the portrait of longtime president Jose Sulaiman for his dedication and contributions to the sport of gloved boxing. To be recognized for bringing to the forefront, re-popularizing, re-educating, and taking America’s first-ever belt from underground and illegal, to televised and legal is such an honor; easily the biggest honor for me in this sport. Thank you so much to the fighters and Mike for this great honor. My father always told me be honest, work hard and always think of others; integrity is everything and will always be recognized by those that have it” – Scott Burt
Scott has also recently been nominated for President Trump’s Lifetime Achievement Award by Dr. Khalilah Comacho-Ali, former wife of the Champ, Muhammad Ali. Dr. Ali visited Burt at the Hall of Fame in Belfast NY last summer, read the reporting from that visit below. Pictured, World Champion Tyson Fury with the newly revamped Diamond Belt
