The British Heavy Middleweight Championship was a top British wrestling championship found throughout the country's circuit. The title's history dates back to its foundation by Joint Promotions in 1953. Officially heavy middleweights were required to weight between 12 st 8 lb (176 lbs) and 13 st 5 lb (187 lb).

The championship was recognised and defended on matches screened by UK national television network ITV as part of the professional wrestling slot on World of Sport as well as standalone broadcasts. Pre-publicity for these championship match broadcasts was given in ITV's nationally published listings magazine TVTimes The entire 31 October 1987 edition of the standalone Wrestling broadcast was given over to Fit Finlay's recapture of the title from Chic Cullen in Bradford, 17 September 1987 and highlights of this match were included on the official ITV wrestling compilation VHS release Mayhem and Mystery. Similarly, highlights of Alan Kilby's capture of the vacant title in a tournament final over King Ben in Preston, 7 October 1981, were included on official ITV wrestling compilation DVD release The Best Of British Wrestling A-Z.

Title history

The title was founded in 1953 and remained in Joint Promotions until the mid-1980s when it was taken over by All Star Wrestling. The title remained active until the mid-1990s.

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
Eric Taylor1953House showN/A1N/AVacated the title in 1966 when he left Joint Promotions.
Bert Royal4 May 1966 (NLT)House showN/A1N/A
Bert Royal16 January 1968House showBlackburn2N/ADefeated Peter Preston, having lost the title at some point before this date.
Jackie Pallo21 April 1969House showNottingham1N/A
Bert RoyalMay 1969 (NLT)House showN/A3N/A
Steve Logan29 August 1975House showLiverpool1N/A
Bert Royal11 November 1975House showManchester4N/A
Mark Rocco11 June 1977House showManchester1N/A
Marty Jones13 September 1978House showWoking1N/AJones, already the holder of the British Light Heavyweight Championship, vacated the title immediately.
Mark Rocco6 December 1978House showBlackburn2N/AWon a tournament final against Chris Adams. Vacated title in August 1981 after winning the world title
Alan Kilby7 October 1981House showPreston1N/AWon a tournament for the belt, defeating King Ben in the final
Dave Finlay9 June 1982House showBath, Somerset1N/A
Alan KilbyAugust 1982 (NLT)House showN/A2N/A
Dave Finlay14 September 1982House showCroydon2N/A
Alan Kilby10 November 1982House showLondon3N/A
Dave Finlay15 November 1982House showBradford3N/A
Alan KilbyNovember 1982House showN/A4N/A location=
Dave Finlay21 December 1982House showWolverhampton4N/A
Alan KilbyJanuary 1983House showN/A5N/A
Chic Cullen21 March 1983House showLondon1N/A
Dave Finlay29 September 1984 (NLT)House showN/A6N/ALegacy from Cullen uncertain
Chic Cullen1985 (NLT)House showN/A2N/ALegacy from Finlay uncertain
Rocky Moran7 January 1986House showCroydon1N/A
Kung Fu (Ed Hamill)3 March 1986House showBradford1N/A
Chic CullenMay 1987 (NLT)House showN/A3N/A
Dave Finlay17 September 1987House showBradford6N/A
Danny Boy Collins4 July 1989House showCroydon1N/A
Richie Brooks29 May 1990House showCroydon1N/AWins title by disqualification when Collins, dazed from falling head-first to ringside, attacks the referee.
Danny Boy Collins4 September 1990House showCroydon2N/ALast known title claimant. Won the British Light Heavyweight Championship in 1996

See also

External links