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[[image: two men, one holds trophy; behind him a shield bearing words 'CHAMPIONS BELT']]
[[image: Men in suits celebrate championship]]
[[image: headshots of two older gentlemen in suits]]
The first ring championship belts presented by Seagram V.O.
Boxing history was made in New York City when...Seven reigning world prizefight champions -- the most ever assembled in one place--came together for a steak & eggs brunch and press reception to receive the first RING Championship Belts presented by Seagram's V.O.
Fighters feted at the event, hosted by V.O. at Smith & Wollensky, an East Side steak house, were: Larry Holmes, World Heavyweight Champion; Matthew Saad Muhammad, World Light Heavyweight Champion; Marvin Hagler, World Middleweight Champion; Aaron Pryor, World Junior Middleweight Champion; Alexis Arguello, World Lightweight Champion; and Jeff Chandler, World Bantamweight Champion.
Also present was "Sugar" Ray Leonard, reigning champion in two weight categories, who received two Belts as both World Junior Middleweight and World Welterweight Champion.
"Seagram's V.O. and the RING Championship Belt both symbolize ultimate achievement and quality in their respective circles," said Walter Haimann, president of the Seagram Distillers Company.
Co-sponsoring this prestigious award is our way of recognizing the enormous appeal that boxing holds for all segments of the American population," he added.
The new Belt subsequently will be awarded to all world boxing champions named by The RING, the magazine known as the "Bible of Boxing." The RING has presented championship belts to boxing champions since Jack Dempsey was presented with the coveted prize in 1922, the year of The RING's founding.
"The RING Championship Belt, presented by Seagram's V.O., is awarded to the reigning world champion in each of the universally-accepted weight classes recognized by The RING," said Bert Randolph Sugar, publisher and editor.
"Winners are selected on the basis of two criteria; 1) historical lineage, i.e., winning the championship in the ring by defeating the recognized champion or 2) winning a bout with the champion at stake, as in the case of Holmes
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