kermit16 said:I can find the link if really interested but I will give you a short version.
Richard Fox was the publisher of the Police Gazette in 1880. Fox was insulted at Harry Hills Saloon by the great John L Sullivan. Because of Richard Fox's hatred of Sullivan, He started awarding the " Police Gazette Diamond Black Belt" to those fighters He considered World Champions. He defiantly awarded the Belt to Jake Kilrain but in 1889, John L Sullivan beat Kilrain to capture the " Belt". In 1922 Nat Fleisher founded Ring Magazine and the practice of awarding Belts to Champions was continued.