Championship belt

{{Short description|Large belt used to signify a champion}}

File:Ric Flair Big Gold NWA 1988 colored.png wearing the Big Gold Belt]]

A championship belt is a large, extravagantly designed belt used primarily in combat sports as an award, similarly to trophies in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts.

The first belt given as a prize for accomplishments within the ring was presented in 1810 by King George III to bare-knuckle boxer Tom Cribb, after he defeated Tom Molineaux, an American who was possibly a former slave.{{cite book| last1 = Fitzgerald| first1 = Mike| last2 = Hudson| first2 = David| year = 2004| title = Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=b9cIRPetE88C&q=%22Jack+Broughton%22+belt&pg=PA1939| publisher = Potomac Books| page = 1939| accessdate = 2015-10-20| isbn = 9781612340319}} Championship belts are used as awards in multiple combat sports, including professional boxing,{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-08-06 |title=The Different Boxing Title Belts Explained {{!}} MK Boxing Gym, Billerica,MA |url=https://mkboxing.com/2019/08/06/the-different-boxing-title-belts-explained/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=MK Boxing Gym |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224082009/https://mkboxing.com/2019/08/06/the-different-boxing-title-belts-explained/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Daniel |date=2021-01-12 |title=The Different Boxing Title Belts Explained - Sidekick Boxing |url=https://sidekickboxing.co.uk/different-boxing-title-belts-explained/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=sidekickboxing.co.uk |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211045744/https://sidekickboxing.co.uk/different-boxing-title-belts-explained/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=What are the major boxing titles? Listing the championship belts and what they mean |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/major-boxing-championship-belts-list/ge65lf29o3kw1pmzktuzbad4a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201005638/https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/major-boxing-championship-belts-list/ge65lf29o3kw1pmzktuzbad4a |archive-date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-02-11 |work=DAZN |language=en-US |url-status=live }} professional wrestling,{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-03-07 |title=Unpacking the Symbolism of WWE Wrestling Belts |url=https://wrestlingchampions.co.uk/unpacking-the-symbolism-of-wwe-wrestling-belts/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Wrestling Champions |language=en-GB |archive-date=2025-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211045744/https://wrestlingchampions.co.uk/unpacking-the-symbolism-of-wwe-wrestling-belts/ |url-status=live }} and mixed martial arts,{{Cite web |last=Sinnott |first=Ryan |date=2024-12-27 |title=The actual value of a UFC championship belt revealed - one former champ sold theirs for a surprising sum |url=https://www.givemesport.com/what-ufc-title-is-worth-mma/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227202106/https://www.givemesport.com/what-ufc-title-is-worth-mma/ |url-status=live }} as well as non-combat sports such as golf{{cite web |title=Before the Claret Jug, there was the Challenge Belt |url=http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/media-center/news-articles/challenge-belt-to-claret-jug/#:~:text=The%20Challenge%20Belt%20was%20awarded,the%20property%20of%20the%20winner. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114085022/https://worldgolfhalloffame.org/media-center/news-articles/challenge-belt-to-claret-jug/ |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |access-date=2020-11-14 |publisher=World Golf Hall of Fame}} and esports.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=5 unique esports trophies you never knew existed |url=https://www.oneesports.gg/gaming/5-most-unique-esports-trophies/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=ONE Esports |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211045744/https://www.oneesports.gg/gaming/5-most-unique-esports-trophies/ |url-status=live }}