Historic belt back in the hands of former boxing champion

The perpetual belt, along with a number of belts and shields, had been in the care of former Australian boxing administrator Arthur Tunstall before he died in 2016.

Then, by chance, the belts and trophies, in a large tupperware container, were brought to the door of a Dapto gym owned by boxing coach Vito Gaudiosi.

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Gaudiosi, a former Australian middleweight champion who had five amateur fights before turning professional, said once he looked, he knew what was inside.

“I thought, these are the title belts,” said Gaudiosi.

“I’ve been looking after them ever since and when I hear about people like Lester I get around and go and present them.”

The NSW Amateur Boxing Association folded in 1992 and the belts and trophies were collected and stored together, however, they weren’t kept in good condition. 

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Gaudiosi said they were trashed, waterlogged and the buckles were rusted – but he hopes to restore them.

Sheather represented Australia at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.

He had his name etched in the perpetual belt in 1958 and 1962. 

Memories rushed back to the 81-year-old when he got his hands on the belt last week.

Over a few beers and surrounded by a group of people, he told stories of his fighting days. 

“I didn’t think I’d every see it again. My names on their twice which is a lot more than any other people,” he laughed.

Gaudiosi has asked the Boxing Hall of Fame whether they’d be interested in the silverware and belts, but he was told to hang onto them.

“If I hand them over to someone they’ll end up forgotten so I’m just leaving them at home until I can move them on to someone who I know will do the same as what I’m doing with them,” he said.

“They don’t belong to a single fighter, these things become antiques.”​