A Boxing Belt presented to Randolph Turpin by the Boxing News in 1951, the red white and blue belt mounted with silver, the central medallion depicting a boxing match with surrounding inscriptions, flanked by four further medallions and two inscriptions, in original fitted case. Hallmarked Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd, London 1951. Length of case measuring 51 cm. 'Awarded to Randolph Turpin voted the Fighter who did most for British Boxing 1951 in a nation-wide poll organised by Boxing News' 'Former Middleweight Champion of the World' 'British & European Middleweight Champion' Born on the 7th June 1928, Randolph Adolphus Turpin (1928-1966); also known as Randy Turpin, or 'the Leamington Licker' after his home town of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire; is renowned for defeating a host of high calibre opponents, including the seemingly invincible Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951. Randy joined the Leamington boys boxing club at the age of twelve; following in the footsteps of his two older brothers Dick and Jackie. He went on to compete in 100 amateur contests, winning an incredible 95. By 1943, aged fifteen he had become the British junior 112lb champion, as well as winning the junior 133lb championship in 1944 and the 147lb junior and senior championships in 1945. Additionally, in 1945 he became the youngest ever Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) champion, and also the first black boxer to win an ABA title. Turning professional in 1946, Turpin went on to fight in 73 recorded contests, winning 64; losing out on 8 and drawing in one against Mark Hart, whom he had previously beaten. It wasn't until he shocked the world in his defeat of Sugar Ray Robinson at Earls Court in London, that Turpin really became a household name and national hero; claiming the prestigious World Middleweight Championship title. Robinson acknowledged that he was soundly beaten with the quote. 'You were real good. I have no alibis. I was beaten by a better man'. Turpin was inducted posthumously in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. In the same year, 50 years after his victory over Sugar Ray Robinson, a bronze statue of Randy was erected in Warwick town square after five years of fund-raising by Turpin fans. The monument, by sculptor Carl Payne, carries the inscription "In palace, pub and parlour, the whole of Britain held its breath". Fellows has a history of auctioning boxing memorabilia. In November 2000, Fellows auctioned the Randolph Turpin 1956 Lonsdale Belt for £23,000.