A BOXING belt owned by Mid Devon man John Chislett has sold for £7,500.

The stunning 9ct gold belt, which is finely enamelled with a scene of two pugilists, belonged to John’s father, boxing legend Johnny Chislett.

The flyweight and bantamweight fighter took part in more than 50 bouts from 1919 to 1927 and was among the leading figures in Welsh sport in the aftermath of World War One.

He won the eight stone Championship Competition Belt in 1922, beating Plymouth’s Kid Kelly and Johnny Jones before a packed house at The Ring in London’s Blackfriars.

John, from Tiverton, inherited the piece of boxing history when his father died in 1967 aged 66.

He haskept it with pride on its original leather waistband for many years and said it was difficult for him to part with.

The winning bidder at the sale in Plymouth last Wednesday was Glynn Thomas, a serious collector from another famous boxing family.

The Thomases, from Plymouth, fought off fierce competition from global internet bidders. They have put it on display at their home alongside plaques which bear the names of every boxer who fought in the town – including Johnny Chislett.

Glynn Thomas, whose father James runs Devonport Boxing Club, said: “My dad is a boxing fanatic and was a great fighter in his time.

“He loves everything to do with boxing, particularly in Plymouth, and has amassed a huge collection of more than 1,900 items of memorabilia over the last 50 years.”