A late nineteenth century American Holske International Challenge Belt for the Light Weight Champion of the World, presented to Jem Carney of Birmingham, England and made by R. T. Hewitson & Co, Boston. The silver and parcel-gilt panel hinged belt, with central shield and applied decoration in relief to include a surmount of enamelled flags, replacement paste set star and initials E.C.H. above a globe with wreath surround, an oval framed photographic portrait of Jem Carney and eagle in flight. The central shield is flanked by two niche panels, each set with a boxer in pose and overseen by further eagles resting on a paste set star and wreath. The belt has six further hinged panels, four with personal inscriptions. Marked to the reverse of the central panel R. T. Hewitson & Co, Boston, six further hinged panels with maker's initials. Maximum extended length measuring 95 cm. Records list differing round numbers and times to the engraved belt. 'Jack McAuliffe beat Harry Gilmore 28 rounds time 1 H. 51 M. Jan. 14. 1887' 'James Carney received forfeit from Jack McAuliffe April 5 1887.' 'Jem Carney beat Jimmy Mitchell. 11 Rds. 41 Min. 40 Sds New York. June 17. 1887.' 'Jem Carney fought Jack McAuliffe. Nov 16th 1887 for $2500 aside. 72 rounds, time 4 hours 5 minutes, when McAuliffe being beaten, his party broke into the ring, robbing Carney of the fight, which was declared a draw.' The lot is sold with a number of supporting and related material to include a monochrome photographic image of Carney in boxing pose wearing the belt, a signed letter from Nat Fleischer on 'The Ring' headed paper addressed to Albert Cook in 1948, which comments that two Holske International Belts were awarded when Jem Carney and McAuliffe fought and the result declared a draw. A copy of Nat Fleischer's book 'Jack McAuliffe, The Napoleon of the Prize Ring', which documents the events surrounding the fight between Carney and McAuliffe, a receipt for the belts sale to Albert Cook in 1949, a bill for repair and an insurance valuation prepared by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd of London in 1948 and a press cutting from 1949 which published a letter from Carney's son discussing his father's boxing career. Born in Birmingham, England in 1856, Jem Carney (1856-1941); formally known as James Carney; was one of the top lightweight fighters of his era. He fought both in England and in the USA (Boston, Philadelphia and New York City) during his notorious boxing career which began in 1878. Renowned for his ruthless technique, Carney was famously arrested and charged with manslaughter following his fight with Jimmy Highland in 1881 who suffered broken ribs, and died four days later. However, Carney was acquitted of that crime but later served six months in jail for prize fighting, more commonly known as 'bare-knuckle boxing'. Despite his ruthlessness, he was a very capable fighter and went onto win the English Lightweight Championship on December 20, 1884 beating Jake Hyams after a 45 round bout that lasted one hour. In 1887 Carney returned to America and beat Jimmy Mitchell over 11 rounds. Carney was present at the fight when McAuliffe defeated Harry Gilmore and subsequently challenged the victor. Nat Fleischer's book 'Jack McAuliffe, The Napoleon of the Prize Ring', details two failed attempts for the boxers to fight. The first saw McAuliffe's backers pullout and he failed to raise the agreed money. Ed Holske, whom originally negotiated Carneys return to America and the donor of the lightweight diamond belt, demanded the return of the diamond belt and presented it to Carney. The fight finally went ahead on the 16th of November 1887 at Revere Beach, Massachusetts, after over 70 rounds and the fight disrupted it was declared a draw. Carney successfully held on to his English Lightweight Championship title for seven years before he was disqualified during a fight with Dick Burge on May 25, 1891; this was to be the fight which led to his retirement from boxing. Carney went onto become a personal bodyguard for boxing aficionado and millionaire George Alexander Baird. Like Carney, Baird also preferred boxing with bare knuckles instead of gloves, and was famously expelled from the Pelican Club after being involved in a fight scandal. Jem Carney died in London on the 8th September 1941. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.