Glasgow, Scotland: The Royal Explorers Club mandates that Benjamin Bryan defend his World Title against Tom Johnson and Jack Bartholomew in 1800. Johnson briefly held the English belt in 1783 and has yet to fight for world honors. Barty currently holds the English strap and has only been on the London scene for five years.
Current middleweight World Champion Spaniard Harris will be required to defend against tough English champ Jem Belcher who has but one loss in ten ring appearances.
1798 Heavyweight World Rankings
Out: After twenty years in the ring, Big Ben Brain has retired with a record of 18/16/0.
Out: Despite a win over a novice, losses to Firby and Owen has ousted the three-hundred pound Isaac Perins from the rankings.
Out: A victory over the winless Squire Fitzgerald was not enough to overcome the losses in 1799 for Bill Jackling.
In: A pair of wins over the tough Jem Lockley have elevated Jack Cary.
In: Victories over Ben Brain and Isaac Perins retired the former and pushed the later out of the rankings thus creating plenty of room for young Thomas Owen.
In: Jack Bartholomew's three solid defenses of his English belt were enough to debut the lad at number three in the rankings.
Complete Heavyweight Rankings
Complete Middleweight Rankings
