The legendary Police Gazette Diamond Belt has taken on new meaning in combat sports. The BYB announced on Thursday morning that it will be used as the traditional linear championship belt for all major world title bouts and title defenses for the organization’s champions.

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The Police Gazette Diamond Belt has its origins in the late 19th century and John L. Sullivan, and is rooted in Belfast, New York. According to a press release from the promotion, it is known as the first belt in combat sports, predating what is known as professional boxing in today’s climate.

Given BYB’s recent acquisition of BKB, the symbolism of the belt reminds BYB CEO Greg Bloom of how far the sport has come, and it makes him ecstatic.

“From John L. Sullivan’s takeover of the Police Gazette in 1882 to the legendary 75-
round, 1889 battle against Jake Kilrain, in the backyard of Dada 5000 in West Perrine
“Until the massive global expansion that took place in Miami in the early 2000s, when BYB acquired BKB, the history of not only bare-knuckle fighting, but championship prizefighting, is indisputably instilled in BYB,” Bloom said in a promotional release. “Fighters looking to make a name for themselves in bare-knuckle fighting now have only one place to go to fight for the oldest championship belt in all of combat sports, and that’s BYB, the largest bare-knuckle organization on the planet. The past, present and future of the sport are all in one bare-knuckle organization, and that’s BYB Extreme.”

BKB Hall of Fame President Scott Burt also shared his thoughts on what the belt really means and what it shows when fighters win the biggest fights of their careers.

“This has been Richard K. Fox’s and my dream all these years, to have the best
fighters from all over the world fight under one roof and they have the Police Gazette as an umbrella over everything. The Police Gazette Diamond Belt is by far the best – the number one award
bare-knuckle boxing, there is no second. In fact, every combat sport
Have you seen a place where the winner lifts his belt, that belt is ours
Police Newspaper Diamond Belt.”

The belt launch will begin in September, with BYB’s next event this Saturday. The main event will feature Chicago’s Cub Hawkins (5-0, 5 KOs) facing Venezuelan Gregoris Cisneros (3-1, 2 KOs) of Pembroke Pines, Fla., for Hawkins’ light heavyweight title. The fights will take place at the Charles F. Dodge Center.

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