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Marcel Thil

Marcel Thil (29 May 1904 – 14 August 1968) was a French boxer and middleweight world champion. Statistical boxing website BoxRec rates Thil as the second-best European boxer ever across all weight divisions, after Joe Calzaghe.[1]

Marcel Thil
Born
Marcel Thil

29 May 1904
Saint-Dizier, France
Died14 August 1968(1968-08-14) (aged 64)
NationalityFrench
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights136
Wins106
Wins by KO49
Losses20
Draws10
No contests0

Early life

Thil was born in Saint-Dizier, a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France. He started boxing at a very young age and turned professional at the age of 16. Thil was a journeyman boxer for a number of years but as he gained experience and matured to his optimal power, he developed strength in both hands and began to win regularly by knockout (KO).

Career

Thil won the French middleweight boxing championship in 1928 and captured the Europe title the following year. After losing his European championship in 1930, Thil won his next 15 fights and then defeated Gorilla Jones by a controversial 11th-round disqualification to capture the National Boxing Association (NBA) world middleweight championship and the vacant International Boxing Union (IBU) world middleweight championship on June 11, 1932, in Paris, France. With his championship victory, Thil became the toast of Paris. He was a major celebrity and a good friend of the celebrated actor Jean Gabin.

Thil successfully defended the title on July 4, 1932, with a 15-round unanimous decision against Len Harvey, but then went more than a year without a title defense. Thil was stripped by the NBA for failing to make a title defense by August 15, 1933, but he remained the IBU champion.[2]

On May 22, 1933, Thil won against German Jewish refugee Eric Seelig, former holder of the German middleweight and light heavyweight championships, at the Palais de Sports in Paris, in a twelve-round points decision. By a few accounts, the bout was for the world title, but the boxers were overweight according to Le Petit Parisien.[3] On January 29, 1934, Seelig fought Marcel Thil again in Paris, losing in a twelve-round points decision.[3][4]

In addition to defending the IBU middleweight championship, Thil moved up a weight class to win the European light-heavyweight title in 1934. He would successfully defend the title once.

After successfully defending the IBU and Ring Magazine middleweight titles 11 times, Thil fought Fred Apostoli in a non-title bout on September 23, 1937, in New York City. It was a non-title affair because the New York State Athletic Commission, which recognized Freddie Steele as the world middleweight champion, said they would sanction the fight only if Thil agreed not to put his championship on the line. Apostoli won by a 10th-round technical knockout (TKO). The fight was stopped due to a severe cut over the right eye of Thil, who was ahead on points at the time of the stoppage. Shortly after the loss, the 33-year-old Thil retired from boxing vacating his titles.[5]

Later life and death

Thil remained active in the world of boxing as an adviser and cornerman and was named honorary president of the Dieppe Boxing Club. He made a living with a company in Reims until he retired to a home in Cannes on the French Riviera.

Thil died at his home in Cannes on August 14, 1968, at the age of 64. Over the last couple years of his life, he was involved in two car accidents, from which he never fully recovered. Thil is buried in the Grand Jas Cemetery.[6]

Honors

Marcel Thil was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame at Canastota, New York in 2005. In France, a street was named in his honor in his birthplace of Saint-Dizier, and both a street and a sports stadium carry his name in the city of Reims.

Professional boxing record

136 fights106 wins20 losses
By knockout493
By decision5217
By disqualification50
Draws10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
136Loss106–20–10Fred ApostoliTKO10 (15)Sep 23, 1937Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost IBU middleweight title
135Win106–19–10Lou BrouillardDQ6 (15)Feb 15, 1937Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU middleweight title
134Win105–19–10Lou BrouillardDQ4 (15)Jan 20, 1936Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
133Win104–19–10Lou BrouillardUD12Nov 25, 1935Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
132Win103–19–10Al DiamondPTS10Oct 28, 1935Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
131Win102–19–10Kid TuneroUD15Jul 13, 1935Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
130Win101–19–10Carmelo CandelUD15Jun 28, 1935Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
129Win100–19–10Ignacio AraUD15Jun 1, 1935 Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
128Win99–19–10Vilda JaksTKO14 (15)May 4, 1935Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
127Win98–19–10Jock McAvoyUD15Jan 14, 1935Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
126Win97–19–10Tino RolandoPTS10Nov 12, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
125Draw96–19–10Carmelo CandelPTS15Oct 15, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
124Win96–19–9Clemente MeroniPTS10Aug 5, 1934Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
123Win95–19–9Rene De VosPTS10Jul 15, 1934Sportpaleis, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
122Win94–19–9Oddone PiazzaPTS10Jun 27, 1934Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France
121Win93–19–9Adolf WittTKO8 (15)Jun 11, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU light heavyweight title
120Win92–19–9Gustave RothMD15May 3, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles;
Retained IBU light heavyweight title
119Win91–19–9Jose Martinez de AlfaraDQ13 (15)Mar 26, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceWon IBU light heavyweight title
118Win90–19–9Ignacio AraUD15Feb 26, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
117Win89–19–9Eric SeeligPTS12Jan 29, 1934Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
116Win88–19–9Kid TuneroUD15Oct 2, 1933Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
115Win87–19–9Jack EtiennePTS10Sep 15, 1933Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
114Win86–19–9Eric SeeligPTS12May 22, 1933Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
113Win85–19–9Louis VauclardTKO6 (?)Mar 8, 1933 Cirque Municipal, Troyes, Aube, France
112Win84–19–9Jack EtiennePTS10Feb 25, 1933Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
111Loss83–19–9Kid TuneroUD12Jan 16, 1933Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
110Win83–18–9Charles Van HaeckeKO2 (10)Dec 25, 1932Casino Municipal, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France
109Win82–18–9Charles Van HaeckeTKO5 (?)Dec 9, 1932Reims, Marne, France
108Win81–18–9Ignacio AraPTS10Dec 5, 1932Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
107Win80–18–9Len JohnsonRTD8 (10)Oct 31, 1932Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
106Win79–18–9Len HarveyPTS15Jul 4, 1932White City Stadium, White City, London, EnglandRetained NBA, IBU, and The Ring middleweight titles
105Win78–18–9Gorilla JonesDQ11 (15)Jun 11, 1932Parc des Princes, Paris, Paris, FranceWon NBA and vacant The Ring and IBU middleweight titles
104Win77–18–9Jack HoodTKO7 (12)Mar 21, 1932Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
103Win76–18–9Jimmy TaranteUD10Feb 22, 1932Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
102Win75–18–9Franz BojaKO1 (10)Jan 20, 1932Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
101Win74–18–9Amedee DubusTKO4 (10)Dec 12, 1931Basel, Switzerland
100Win73–18–9Pietro ToscaniDQ3 (10)Dec 1, 1931Palais d'Hiver, Lyon, Rhône, FranceToscani was disqualified for abandoning without justification
99Win72–18–9Jack Kid CaseyPTS10Nov 9, 1931Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
98Win71–18–9Hermann KlintzTKO4 (10)Oct 26, 1931Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
97Win70–18–9Tom BenjaminKO8 (10)Sep 24, 1931Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
96Win69–18–9Gheorghe AxiotiPTS10Sep 5, 1931Roman Arenas, Bucharest, Romania
95Win68–18–9Vince DundeeUD12Jul 10, 1931Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France
94Win67–18–9Felix SportielloTKO8 (10)Jun 18, 1931Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
93Win66–18–9Emile LebrizeTKO5 (12)Apr 15, 1931Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained France middleweight title
92Win65–18–9Alexis MarinUD12Feb 14, 1931Casino Municipal, Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes, FranceRetained France middleweight title
91Win64–18–9Andre DhainautKO9 (12)Jan 11, 1931Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, FranceRetained France middleweight title
90Win63–18–9Pierre GandonPTS12Dec 10, 1930Salle Bullier, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained France middleweight title
89Loss62–18–9Mario BosisioPTS15Nov 23, 1930Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Lombardia, ItalyLost IBU middleweight title
88Win62–17–9Motzi SpakowKO7 (12)Nov 1, 1930Bucharest, RomaniaRetained IBU middleweight title
87Win61–17–9Emile RomerioPTS10Sep 6, 1930Gymnase Huygens, Paris, Paris, France
86Win60–17–9Ali SadekTKO6 (?)Jul 27, 1930Reims, Marne, France
85Win59–17–9Alfred PegazzanoPTS15Mar 12, 1930Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained IBU middleweight title
84Win58–17–9Alexis MarinPTS12Jan 29, 1930Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
83Win57–17–9Eugene CorsinTKO4 (?)Jan 18, 1930Amiens, Somme, France
82Win56–17–9Charles KrauchiTKO6 (?)Dec 27, 1929Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
81Loss55–17–9Fred ShawPTS15Nov 5, 1929Manchester, Lancashire, England
80Win55–16–9Alfred PegazzanoPTS12Oct 16, 1929Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
79Win54–16–9Alexis MarinTKO4 (10)May 15, 1929Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
78Win53–16–9Leone JacovacciPTS15Mar 27, 1929Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceWon IBU middleweight title
77Win52–16–9Yvan LaffineurKO2 (12)Mar 12, 1929Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained France middleweight title
76Win51–16–9Yvan LaffineurPTS12Jan 8, 1929Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, FranceRetained France middleweight title
75Win50–16–9Billy FarmerKO1 (10)Dec 5, 1928Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
74Win49–16–9Orlando LeopardiTKO3 (?)Nov 17, 1928Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
73Win48–16–9Joe BloomfieldKO2 (12)Nov 2, 1928Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
72Win47–16–9Marcel ThuruTKO1 (10)Oct 12, 1928Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, FranceWon vacant France middleweight title
71Win46–16–9Pierre GandonKO5 (10)Sep 19, 1928Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
70Win45–16–9Ted MooreTKO7 (?)Sep 3, 1928Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
69Win44–16–9Guardsman George WestKO5 (15)Jul 23, 1928Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
68Win43–16–9Orlando LeopardiPTS12Jul 9, 1928 Tunis, Tunisia
67Win42–16–9Laurie RaiteriTKO8 (?)Jun 10, 1928Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
66Win41–16–9Andy NewtonTKO10 (20)May 21, 1928Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
65Win40–16–9Daniel ArnaudKO2 (?)Apr 21, 1928Saint-Etienne, Loire, France
64Loss39–16–9Len HarveyPTS15Dec 12, 1927Holland Park Rink, Kensington, London, England
63Loss39–15–9Jack HoodPTS15Nov 28, 1927The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England
62Draw39–14–9Guardsman George WestPTS15Nov 2, 1927Walham Green Baths, Fulham, London, England
61Loss39–14–8Leone JacovacciKO10 (?)Oct 28, 1927 Roma, Lazio, Italy
60Loss39–13–8Joe BloomfieldPTS12Oct 3, 1927Mile End Peoples Palace, Mile End, London, England
59Win39–12–8Bob YoussefPTS10Sep 19, 1927Palais de la Boxe, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
58Win38–12–8Joe BloomfieldPTS15Aug 29, 1927London, England
57Win37–12–8Marcel ForgeonKO7 (10)Jul 28, 1927Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France
56Loss36–12–8Billy FarmerPTS15Jun 13, 1927Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
55Win36–11–8Andy NewtonRTD9 (?)May 3, 1927Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
54Draw35–11–8Maurice ForgeonPTS10Feb 13, 1927Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
53Win35–11–7Battling MatharPTS10Feb 5, 1927Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
52Win34–11–7Emile ChristyPTS10Jan 25, 1927Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France
51Win33–11–7Antonio GabiolaTKO9 (10)Dec 21, 1926Teatro Circo Barcelonés, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
50Draw32–11–7Guillermo ArnauPTS10Nov 23, 1926Iris Park, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
49Loss32–11–6Leone JacovacciPTS10Nov 18, 1926Salle Printania, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
48Loss32–10–6Raoul DumondinPTS10Nov 6, 1926Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
47Draw32–9–6Jean ForrPTS10Oct 23, 1926Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
46Win32–9–5Kid NomoPTS10Oct 17, 1926Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
45Win31–9–5Young TravetKO6 (?)Aug 22, 1926Velodrome Jean Bouin, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
44Loss30–9–5Kid NitramPTS10Aug 8, 1926Velodrome Jean Bouin, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
43Loss30–8–5Tomas ThomasPTS10Jul 15, 1926Mundial Sport, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
42Win30–7–5Young TravetTKO1 (10)Jun 6, 1926Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
41Win29–7–5Louis CitonyPTS8Apr 12, 1926Salle Guilbert, Caen, Calvados, France
40Loss28–7–5Gaston LafontPTS10Apr 8, 1926 Cherbourg, Manche, France
39Win28–6–5Eugene FleuritPTS8Mar 1, 1926FranceDate & location unknown
38Draw27–6–5Maurice ForgeonPTS8Feb 14, 1926Gymnase Christmann, Paris, Paris, France
37Loss27–6–4Gaston LafontPTS10Feb 12, 1926Caen, Calvados, France
36Win27–5–4Maurice ForgeonPTS10Feb 9, 1926Cherbourg, Manche, France
35Draw26–5–4Enrico VittorioPTS10Jan 31, 1926Le Perreux-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne, France
34Win26–5–3Theo DussartPTS10Jan 9, 1926Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France
33Win25–5–3Raymond KlaussTKO1 (10)Nov 6, 1925Cherbourg, Manche, France
32Win24–5–3Pierre LambinetPTS10Oct 20, 1925Ring Cadet, Paris, France
31Win23–5–3Jean AndreTKO3 (?)Oct 7, 1925FranceLocation unknown
30Win22–5–3Jean FillionKO2 (?)Aug 31, 1925FranceDate & location unknown
29Win21–5–3Georges MorganKO2 (?)Aug 1, 1925FranceDate & location unknown
28Win20–5–3Enrico VittorioPTS10Jul 27, 1925Bricquebec, Manche, France
27Win19–5–3Daniel DaneyPTS8Jun 1, 1925Saint-Lô, Manche, FranceDate unknown
26Win18–5–3Max PlouvierKO3 (?)May 25, 1925Cherbourg, Manche, France
25Win17–5–3Paul SiterreKO6 (10)Apr 26, 1925Vire, Calvados, France
24Loss16–5–3Maurice ForgeonTKO7 (?)Apr 8, 1925Cherbourg, Manche, France
23Win16–4–3Eugene FleuritKO2 (?)Feb 10, 1925Cherbourg, Manche, France
22Win15–4–3Albert MichaudKO3 (?)Nov 1, 1924FranceDate & location unknown
21Win14–4–3Henri CreKO? (?)Sep 1, 1924FranceDate & location unknown
20Loss13–4–3Gaston LafontPTS10Jul 1, 1924FranceDate & location unknown
19Win13–3–3Saint MarcelliKO4 (?)Jun 1, 1924Cherbourg, Manche, FranceDate unknown
18Win12–3–3Saint MarcelliPTS6May 25, 1924Lorient, Morbihan, France
17Win11–3–3Henri BenoitPTS6May 24, 1924Lorient, Morbihan, France
16Win10–3–3TabartPTS8Apr 27, 1924Cherbourg, Manche, France
15Win9–3–3ChambonTKO7 (?)Apr 1, 1924Cherbourg, Manche, France
14Win8–3–3ChambonPTS8Mar 7, 1924Cherbourg, Manche, France
13Win7–3–3Feodor NikolaeffPTS8Feb 15, 1924Caen, Calvados, France
12Draw6–3–3Joe BattPTS8Feb 1, 1924Cherbourg, Manche, France
11Win6–3–2Edouard MauconduitPTS8Dec 24, 1923Cherbourg, Manche, France
10Loss5–3–2Eugene AlonzoPTS8Nov 7, 1923Cherbourg, Manche, France
9Loss5–2–2Eugene AlonzoPTS6Oct 7, 1923Cherbourg, Manche, France
8Win5–1–2MotschTKO3 (6)Sep 16, 1923Parc du Casino, Cherbourg, Manche, France
7Win4–1–2Enrico VittorioPTS6Jul 15, 1923Cherbourg, Manche, France
6Win3–1–2Edouard MauconduitTKO4 (?)May 1, 1923Cherbourg, Manche, FranceDate unknown
5Win2–1–2Louis Le BihanPTS8Mar 1, 1923Lorient, Morbihan, FranceDate unknown
4Loss1–1–2Pierre MilesicPTS6Jan 1, 1923FranceDate & location unknown
3Draw1–0–2PiersonPTS4Oct 7, 1922Reims, Marne, France
2Win1–0–1Andre FranotTKO2 (4)May 25, 1922Charleville, Marne, France
1Draw0–0–1PiersonPTS4May 7, 1922Reims, Marne, France

References

Achievements
Vacant
Title last held by
Mickey Walker 		The Ring Middleweight Champion
June 11, 1932 – September 23, 1937
Retired		Vacant
Title next held by
Freddie Steele
Preceded by NBA World Middleweight Champion
June 11, 1932– September 19, 1933
Stripped		Vacant
Title next held by
Vince Dundee
Inaugural Champion IBU World Middleweight Champion
June 11, 1932 – 23 September 1937
Retired		Succeeded by
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