A PIECE of Newport’s sporting history is set to go under the hammer this week.

A Lonsdale Belt worn by legendary boxer Johnny Basham is expected to sell for more than £30,000 at auction.

The Lonsdale Belt, which was awarded to Mr Basham in 1914, 1915 and 1916, will be auctioned at Bonhams Sporting Memorabilia sale in Chester on June 19, valued between £30,000 and £35,000.

A Newport man, Mr Basham became the British and European champion at both welterweight and middleweight boxing.

His first title fight was in 1914 and he won the title for two successive years in 1915 and 1916, but his career was defined not only by his great success, but also by the death in the ring of opponent Harry Price.

Mr Basham faced manslaughter charges for the death of Mr Price, despite much public sympathy, but was later acquitted when the magistrate concluded that the fight had taken place sportingly.

He also served on the Western Front during the First World War.

In his later years, Mr Basham lived a meagre existence and it is said he would often wear his Lonsdale Belt and walk into a pub in the hope of being bought a drink.

In 1947 the people of Newport organised a boxing tournament in Mr Basham’s name, and the proceeds of the fight would provide him with a pension.

But one week before the tournament Mr Basham died and a huge crowd attended his funeral.

For more than 40 years a simple wooden cross marked his grave, until 1987, when a boxing tournament was arranged between Newport and its German twin town, Heidenheim, raising enough money to pay for a headstone.

Now, more than 60 years after his death, his belt is up for sale.

It has a central oval enamel portrait of two boxers, with the words National Sporting Club Welter Weight Championship engraved on it, and has red, white and blue silk ribbon running the entire length and a further four enamel painted boxing scenes. It is engraved with fight details and winners’ names, and comes complete with the original blue velvet case and lock.