Marcel Thil
Marcel Thil ( born May 25, 1904 in Saint- Dizier, † August 14, 1968 in Cannes) was a French boxer. He was world champion at middleweight and European middleweight and light heavyweight in professional boxers.
Career
Marcel Thil in 1920 with only 16 years of professional boxers. He was at this time " Boxlehrling ". He developed both physically and boxing driven in the next few years and had after about six years reached a stage from which one could say that he is one of the good French professional boxers. He fought in those years exclusively active in his native, eg in Cherbourg, Reims, Caen, Lorient and Calais and suffered in those years most of his defeats. His first fight at all, he played on July 9, 1920 in Nancy, where he defeated Leon Patoux after four rounds on points. His first fight in Paris, he played on 14 February 1926.
On October 12, 1928 he was in Paris by a technical knockout victory in the first round of Marcel Thuru French champion at middleweight. From that point on, he became known in France. On March 27, 1929, he defeated the Italians in Paris Leone Jacovacci after 15 rounds by points and won the EBU European title at middleweight. Through victory over his compatriot Alfred Pegazzano on March 12, 1930 in Paris, on Motzi Spakow from Romania on 1 November 1930 in Bucharest and the Italian Mario Bosisio on November 23, 1930 in Milan, he defended that title successfully.
On June 11, 1932 Marcel Thil was in Paris by a disqualification victory in the 11th round of the American William Jones, known as Gorilla Jones, in front of 70,000 fans at the Parc des Princes Stadium, the new world champion of Boxorganisation IBU at middleweight. The enormous audience of 70,000 was surpassed in France before this fight only in encounters of Georges Carpentier. At the time of Marcel Thil Abbruches was already clear on points lead. Jones was disqualified because of his ever becoming unclean way of fighting.
The popularity of Marcel Thil in France reached a new peak after this victory. He was passed around in the circles of prominence and had many friends in political and artistic circles. His best friend was Jean Gabin.
On July 4, 1932 Marcel Thil defended at White City Stadium in London his title against the excellent Englishman Len Harvey. After 15 hard fought rounds, he was awarded a narrow points victory. On January 16, 1933, he had then in Paris by a native of Cuba Spanish Kid Tunero in a non-title fight a surprising point defeat after 12 rounds accept. Kid Tunero was then given the chance again to box on October 2, 1933 in Paris against Marcel Thil, with it this time but went to the IBU World Cup title. In this fight, Marcel Thil retained after 15 laps the upper hand and was winner on points.
After successful title defenses against the Spaniard Ignacio Ara and Martinez de Alfara in the spring of 1934, Marcel Thil fought on May 3, 1934 in Paris against Gustave Roth from Belgium equal to three titles. To the IBU World Championships middleweight title and the EBU European title in the middle and light heavyweight. Marcel Thil won that fight after 15 rounds by points and was in possession of these three titles.
Already on June 11, 1934 was Marcel Thil in Paris again in the ring. He defended his EBU this European title at light heavyweight against the German Adolf Witt. Thil won this fight by TKO in the 8th round. This was his only title defense against a German boxer.
1934 and 1935 he defended his then three titles alternately against his challenger. He defeated in those years Carmelo Candel, Jock McAvon, Vilda Jaks, Ignacio Ara and again also kid Tunero. In 1936 he had to face in Paris two heavy fighting against Canadian Lou Brouillard. This heavy battles were mainly because Brouillard was an extremely rough journeyman and Thil with all lawful and unlawful means zusetzte difficult for him. Brouillard was disqualified in two fights because of his unfair method of fighting, once in the 4th round and the second time in the 6th round.
On September 23, 1937 Marcel Thil defended his IBU World Cup - middleweight title on the mediation of his American manager Lew Burston against the Americans Fred Apostoli. This fight took place in the Polo Grounds held in New York and was hosted by the well-known promoter Mike Jacobs. After a balanced fight the referee stopped because of a cut over the right eye of Marcel Thil the fight in the 10th round and Apostoli was declared the new champion.
After this defeat, Marcel Thil entered, a complete surprise to many of his friends, back and even took off his two European titles.
After the pit
Marcel Thil remained in France also remained very popular. He devoted himself to further the sport of boxing and was at the Boxing Club Dieppe for many years president and coach in a person. He was married to Georgette Taitard a subsidiary of its French manager. In 1961 he was knight of the Legion of Honour. In later years he was based in Cannes. In Cannes, he also died on August 14, 1968 to the consequences of a serious car accident. He was buried at the Cimetière du Grand Jas in Cannes. 2005 Marcel Thil was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.