[3][4] Billy McCarthy was being referred to as middleweight champion of Australia as of 1886[5] however his matches were not promoted as though it was an official title which was on the line.
[10] Despite not winning a 'championship match' Jim Hall had adopted the title of champion middleweight of New South Wales as of 1890 due to a string of strong performances and contenders declining to fight him.
[16] In 1924 the company Stadiums Limited attempted to assume responsibility for the title, organizing a match for the championship after Alf Stewart refused to box for six months, however the decision was not universally acknowledged and the media still regarded Stewart as reigning champion when he returned to the ring.
Leichhardt Stadium management argued that the title reverted to previous title-holder Tommy Colteaux,[18] and he was generally accepted as champion in Sydney,[19] however Stadiums Limited grew frustrated with Colteaux refusing to accept matches and decided to reject his claim and hold a tournament to determine their own champion[20] putting forward Alan Westbury in January, 1945.
[21] By February Westbury was generally regarded as the legitimate champion by fans,[22] and when Hockey Bennell beat the Leichhardt 'champion' in March 1945 he was aiming to earn a fight against Westbury to become the middleweight champion, reflecting that Stadiums Limited had assumed responsibility for the title.