Marcel Cerdan

Marcel Cerdan
Born	Marcellin Cerdan 22 July 1916 Sidi Bel Abbès, French Algeria (now Algeria)
Died	28 October 1949(1949-10-28) (aged 33) São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Nationality	French
Other names	Le bombardier marocain (The Moroccan Bomber) Casablanca Clouter
Statistics
Weight(s)	Middleweight
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	114
Wins	110
Wins by KO	65
Losses	4
Draws	0
No contests	0

Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan (French pronunciation: [maʁsɛl sɛʁdɑ̃]; 22 July 1916 – 28 October 1949) was a French professional boxer and world middleweight champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa. His life was marked by his sporting achievements, social lifestyle and ultimately, tragedy, being killed in an airplane crash.

Early life

Marcellin Cerdan was born at 9:00pm on 22 July 1916 in the "Little Paris" neighbourhood of Sidi Bel Abbès in Algeria. He was the fourth son of Antonio Cerdán (1880-1946), a day labourer, and Asunción Cascales (1886-1942), pied-noirs of Spanish origin.

Boxing career

Marcel Cerdan on a 1969 UAE stamp

He began boxing professionally on 4 November 1934 in Meknes, Morocco, beating Marcel Bucchianeri by a decision in six rounds. Cerdan then ran a streak of 47 wins in a row between that first bout and 4 January 1939, when he lost for the first time, to Harry Craster by a disqualification in five rounds in London. Cerdan campaigned heavily in the French territories of Algeria and Morocco during that part of his career, as well as in metropolitan France. In 1938, he beat Omar Kouidri in a 12-round decision at Casablanca to claim the French welterweight title.

Marcel Cerdan (right) in front of Saverio Turiello (left)

After his first loss, Cerdan recorded five consecutive wins, which led him to challenge Saviello Turiello for Europe's welterweight title in Milan, Italy. He won the European title by a decision in 15 rounds to continue his ascent towards the championship (back then, it was considered essential to own at least a Continental title belt to earn a world title shot; nowadays, it is not considered as important).

Cerdan's winning streak eventually reached 23 bouts before he suffered a defeat to Victor Buttin by disqualification for a second time, in eight rounds in Algiers in 1942. They would later re-match in 1945, and Cerdan would avenge the defeat by knocking Buttin out in the third round.

For his next bout after the first fight with Buttin though, Cerdan put his title on the line against José Ferrer (namesake of the Hollywood star). He knocked out Ferrer in one round, and won four more bouts in a row before facing another boxer with a namesake: James Toney, who shared that name with another boxer who would become world Middleweight champion five decades later. Cerdan knocked out Toney in two rounds to keep this new winning streak alive. The new streak would reach 37 wins. In between, he joined the American allies in World War II during 1944, and he won the Inter-Allied Championship.

He also went up in weight to the Middleweight division, and won the French title by beating Assane Douf by a knockout in three rounds. He later claimed the vacant European title by beating Léon Foquet by a knockout in one round. He retained that title a couple of times before losing it to rugged Belgian Cyrille Delannoit by a decision in 15 at Brussels, Belgium. Soon, he went back to Belgium and re-took the title by beating Delannoit, also by decision.

Finally, after the rematch with Delannoit, Cerdan was given a world title opportunity and he travelled to the United States, where he beat World Middleweight champion Tony Zale. Cerdan became a world champion by knocking Zale out in the 12th round in Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey on 21 September 1948.

Death and fame

During his short period as a world champion, Cerdan became a popular figure of the Paris scene. Although married with three children, he had an affair with the famous singer Édith Piaf. The affair lasted from summer 1948 until his death in autumn 1949. They were very devoted to each other and Piaf dedicated one of her most famous songs, Hymne à l'amour, to Cerdan.

For his first defense Cerdan returned to the United States, where he fought Jake LaMotta in Detroit. Cerdan was knocked down in round one, his shoulder was dislocated, and he had to give up after the tenth round. It would be the last fight of Cerdan's life. A contract was signed for a rematch and Cerdan went to training camp for it, but before camp began he boarded an Air France flight to visit Piaf in New York, where she was singing. The Lockheed L-749 Constellation crashed into Monte Redondo (São Miguel Island, Azores), killing all 11 crew members and 37 passengers on board, including Cerdan and the famous French violinist Ginette Neveu, while approaching the intermediate stop airport at Santa Maria. Days later, LaMotta lauded Cerdan as a great sportsman. Cerdan was interred in the Cimetière du Sud, Perpignan, Pyrénées- Orientales, France.

Legacy

Cerdan's record was 110 wins and 4 losses, with 65 wins by knockout.

He is a member, along with LaMotta and Zale, of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

In 1983, Cerdan and Piaf had their lives turned into a big screen biography by Claude Lelouch. The film, Édith et Marcel, starred Marcel Cerdan, Jr. in the role of his father and Évelyne Bouix as Piaf. He is portrayed by actor Jean-Pierre Martins in the 2007 Piaf biopic La Môme (entitled La Vie en Rose in English-speaking countries).

In 1991, a sports arena, the Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, was named in his honor.

Professional boxing record

114 fights	110 wins	4 losses
By knockout	65	1
By decision	45	1
By disqualification	0	2

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
114	Loss	110–4	Jake LaMotta	RTD	9 (15)	Jun 16, 1949	Briggs Stadium, Detroit	Lost NBA and The Ring middleweight titles
113	Win	110–3	Lucien Krawczyk	KO	4 (10)	May 08, 1949	Stade Philip, Casablanca
112	Win	109–3	Dick Turpin	KO	7 (10)	Mar 29, 1949	Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington
111	Win	108–3	Tony Zale	RTD	11 (15)	Sep 21, 1948	Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City	Won NBA and The Ring middleweight titles
110	Win	107–3	Cyrille Delannoit	PTS	15	Jul 10, 1948	Palais des Sports, Brussels	Won European middleweight title
109	Loss	106–3	Cyrille Delannoit	PTS	15	May 23, 1948	Heizel Stadium, Brussels	Lost European middleweight title
108	Win	106–2	Lucien Krawczyk	PTS	10	Mar 25, 1948	Palais des Sports, Paris
107	Win	105–2	Lavern Roach	TKO	8 (10)	Mar 12, 1948	Madison Square Garden, New York
106	Win	104–2	Jean Walzack	KO	4 (15)	Feb 09, 1948	Palais des Sports, Paris	Retained European middleweight title
105	Win	103–2	Giovanni Manca	KO	2 (15)	Jan 26, 1948	Palais des Sports, Paris	Retained European middleweight title
104	Win	102–2	Anton Raadik	UD	10	Oct 31, 1947	Chicago Stadium, Chicago
103	Win	101–2	Billy Walker	TKO	1 (10)	Oct 07, 1947	Forum, Montreal
102	Win	100–2	Harold Green	TKO	2 (10)	Mar 28, 1947	Madison Square Garden, New York
101	Win	99–2	Bert Gilroy	KO	4 (10)	Feb 11, 1947	Seymour Hall, Marylebone
100	Win	98–2	Leon Fouquet	KO	1 (15)	Feb 02, 1947	Parc des Expositions, Paris	Won vacant European middleweight title
99	Win	97–2	Georgie Abrams	UD	10	Dec 06, 1946	Madison Square Garden, New York
98	Win	96–2	Jean Pankowiak	KO	5 (10)	Oct 20, 1946	Stade de la Croix de Berny, Antony
97	Win	95–2	Holman Williams	PTS	10	Jul 07, 1946	Stade Roland Garros, Paris
96	Win	94–2	Robert Charron	PTS	12	May 25, 1946	Parc des Princes, Paris
95	Win	93–2	Joe Brun	KO	2 (10)	Apr 14, 1946	Nice
94	Win	92–2	Jose Ferrer	KO	4 (10)	Feb 24, 1946	Plaza de Toros Monumental, Barcelona
93	Win	91–2	Edouard Tenet	PTS	12	Jan 18, 1946	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris
92	Win	90–2	Agostinho Guedes	KO	1 (10)	Jan 12, 1946	Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon
91	Win	89–2	Victor Buttin	KO	3 (10)	Dec 08, 1945	Saint-Etienne
90	Win	88–2	Assane Diouf	KO	3 (12)	Nov 30, 1945	Palais des Sports, Paris
89	Win	87–2	Tommy Davies	KO	1 (10)	Oct 19, 1945	Palais des Sports, Paris
88	Win	86–2	Edouard Tenet	PTS	10	Jun 23, 1945	Stade de la Croix de Berny, Antony
87	Win	85–2	Oscar Menozzi	KO	3 (10)	Jun 03, 1945	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille
86	Win	84–2	Jean Despeaux	KO	5 (10)	May 13, 1945	Stade de la Croix-de-Bernay, Paris
85	Win	83–2	Joe Brun	TKO	7 (10)	Mar 09, 1945	Palais des Sports, Paris
84	Win	82–2	Ralph Burnley	TKO	2 (3)	Dec 16, 1944	Brancaccio Theatre, Roma
83	Win	81–2	Floyd Gibson	PTS	3	Dec 14, 1944	Brancaccio Theatre, Roma
82	Win	80–2	Clint Perry	KO	1 (3)	Dec 12, 1944	Brancaccio Theatre, Roma
81	Win	79–2	Bouaya	KO	1 (10)	Oct 21, 1944	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
80	Win	78–2	Joe DiMartino	TKO	1 (3)	Feb 19, 1944	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
79	Win	77–2	Sammy Adragna	PTS	3	Feb 17, 1944	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
78	Win	76–2	Harold Drouhin	KO	1 (3)	Feb 15, 1944	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
77	Win	75–2	Willie Sampson	KO	2 (10)	Jan 30, 1944	Stade Philip, Casablanca
76	Win	74–2	Larry Cisneros	KO	2 (10)	Dec 29, 1943	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
75	Win	73–2	James Toney	TKO	2 (?)	Dec 26, 1943	Stade Camp Saint-Philippe, Oran
74	Win	72–2	Bulldog Milano	KO	2 (10)	Oct 30, 1943	Stade Philip, Casablanca
73	Win	71–2	Larry Cisneros	KO	6 (10)	Oct 10, 1943	Stade Camp Saint-Philippe, Orans
72	Win	70–2	Omar Kouidri	PTS	10	Sep 12, 1943	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
71	Win	69–2	John McCoy	KO	2 (10)	Aug 08, 1943	Stade Petain, Oran
70	Win	68–2	Jose Ferrer	TKO	1 (15)	Sep 30, 1942	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris	Retained European welterweight title
69	Loss	67–2	Victor Buttin	DQ	8 (10)	Aug 15, 1942	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers	Cerdan disqualified for low blows
68	Win	67–1	Fernand Frely	TKO	3 (10)	Aug 02, 1942	Marseille
67	Win	66–1	Victor Jana	TKO	2 (10)	Jul 25, 1942	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
66	Win	65–1	Gaspard Deridder	KO	1 (10)	Jun 28, 1942	Grand Palais, Paris
65	Win	64–1	Fernand Viez	PTS	10	May 17, 1942	Grand Palais, Paris
64	Win	63–1	Gustave Humery	KO	1 (10)	Apr 26, 1942	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris
63	Win	62–1	Fred Flury	TKO	7 (10)	Feb 21, 1942	Palais des Fêtes et des Expositions, Nice
62	Win	61–1	Roby Seidel	TKO	3 (10)	Dec 31, 1941	Grand Casino, Vichy
61	Win	60–1	Roland Coureau	TKO	9 (10)	Sep 13, 1941	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
60	Win	59–1	Joe Brun	TKO	2 (10)	Jul 20, 1941	Oran
59	Win	58–1	Francois Blanchard	KO	6 (10)	Jun 22, 1941	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille
58	Win	57–1	Omar Kouidri	RTD	6 (15)	May 05, 1941	Oran	Retained European welterweight title
57	Win	56–1	Victor Fortes	RTD	2 (10)	Apr 13, 1941	Oran
56	Win	55–1	Victor Janas	PTS	10	Mar 09, 1941	Stade Philip, Casablanca
55	Win	54–1	Victor Fortes	RTD	7 (10)	Feb 02, 1941	Foyer Civic, Algiers
54	Win	53–1	Young Raymond	RTD	6 (10)	Jan 26, 1941	Stade Philip, Casablanca
53	Win	52–1	Young Raymond	KO	1 (10)	Jan 19, 1941	Foyer Civic, Algiers
52	Win	51–1	Cleto Locatelli	PTS	10	Jun 16, 1939	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille
51	Win	50–1	Saverio Turiello	PTS	15	Jun 03, 1939	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille	Won European welterweight title
50	Win	49–1	Roger Cadot	TKO	6 (12)	May 21, 1939	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille
49	Win	48–1	Felix Wouters	PTS	12	Mar 22, 1939	Palais des Sports, Brussels
48	Win	47–1	Saverio Turiello	PTS	12	Feb 20, 1939	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris
47	Win	46–1	Al Baker	TKO	7 (10)	Feb 04, 1939	Palais des Sports, Brussels
46	Win	45–1	Ercole Buratti	PTS	10	Jan 21, 1939	Automobile Hall, Algiers
45	Loss	44–1	Harry Craster	DQ	5 (10)	Jan 09, 1939	Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington	Low Blow
44	Win	44–0	Omar Kouidri	PTS	12	Nov 24, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
43	Win	43–0	Alfred Katter	KO	5 (10)	Nov 10, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
42	Win	42–0	Amedeo Deyana	PTS	10	Oct 27, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
41	Win	41–0	Al Baker	PTS	10	Sep 15, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
40	Win	40–0	Victor Deckmyn	PTS	10	Jul 03, 1938	Arenes d'Eckmühl, Oran
39	Win	39–0	Jean Morin	PTS	10	Jun 04, 1938	Automobile Hall, Algiers
38	Win	38–0	Gustave Humery	KO	6 (12)	May 20, 1938	Palais des Sports, Paris
37	Win	37–0	Cleto Locatelli	PTS	12	May 05, 1938	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris
36	Win	36–0	Eduard Hrabak	PTS	10	Aug 13, 1938	Palais des Sports, Paris
35	Win	35–0	Charles Pernot	PTS	10	Mar 04, 1938	Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers
34	Win	34–0	Omar Kouidri	PTS	12	Feb 21, 1938	Vox, Casablanca
33	Win	33–0	Jean Zides	TKO	9 (10)	Jan 20, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
32	Win	32–0	Eddie Ran	KO	2 (10)	Jan 13, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
31	Win	31–0	Charles Fedorowich	TKO	2 (10)	Jan 06, 1938	Salle Wagram, Paris
30	Win	30–0	Max Ifergane	PTS	10	Dec 18, 1937	Rabat
29	Win	29–0	Jean Morin	PTS	10	Oct 21, 1937	Salle Wagram, Paris
28	Win	28–0	Louis Jampton	PTS	10	Oct 07, 1937	Salle Wagram, Paris
27	Win	27–0	Eduard Hrabak	KO	6 (10)	Sep 13, 1937	Vox, Casablanca
26	Win	26–0	Kid Marcel	PTS	10	Aug 22, 1937	Oran
25	Win	25–0	Ali Omar	TKO	5 (10)	Jul 03, 1937	Hall de la Foire, Algiers
24	Win	24–0	Omar Kouidri	PTS	10	Apr 03, 1937	Salle de l'Agriculture, Algiers
23	Win	23–0	Omar Kouidri	PTS	10	Mar 02, 1937	Rabat
22	Win	22–0	Maurice Naudin	TKO	3 (10)	Jan 30, 1937	Hall de la Foire, Algiers
21	Win	21–0	Aissa Attaff	RTD	8 (10)	Jan 16, 1937	Central Ring, Algiers
20	Win	20–0	Jean Debeaumont	PTS	10	Nov 21, 1936	Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca
19	Win	19–0	Aissa Attaf	KO	1 (10)	Nov 08, 1936	Salle Mazella, Algiers
18	Win	18–0	Primo Rubio	PTS	10	Oct 17, 1936	La Manutention, Casablanca
17	Win	17–0	Al Francis	KO	6 (10)	Aug 02, 1936	Arenes d'Eckmühl, Oran
16	Win	16–0	Mariano Castillanos	PTS	10	Jun 06, 1936	Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca
15	Win	15–0	Kid Abadie	KO	3 (10)	May 27, 1936	Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca
14	Win	14–0	M Ricardo	TKO	5 (10)	May 23, 1936	Casablanca
13	Win	13–0	Joseph Martinez	TKO	9 (10)	Apr 11, 1936	Taza
12	Win	12–0	Max Ifergane	PTS	10	Apr 07, 1936	Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca
11	Win	11–0	Antoine Abad	PTS	10	Mar 04, 1936	Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca
10	Win	10–0	Mak Perez	PTS	10	Dec 14, 1935	Casablanca
9	Win	9–0	Mak Perez	PTS	10	Nov 23, 1935	Salle des Fetes du Maarif, Casablanca
8	Win	8–0	Francisco Mestres	PTS	10	Aug 03, 1935	Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca
7	Win	7–0	Joseph Sarfati	PTS	10	Jul 19, 1935	Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca
6	Win	6–0	Mak Perez	RTD	2 (10)	Jul 05, 1935	Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca
5	Win	5–0	Max Privat	RTD	5 (10)	Apr 13, 1935	Cirque Melburn, Casablanca
4	Win	4–0	Leon Benazra	PTS	10	Apr 13, 1935	Cirque Melburn, Casablanca
3	Win	3–0	Perez III	PTS	10	Feb 06, 1935	Cirque Melburn, Casablanca
2	Win	2–0	Leon Benazra	RTD	5 (6)	Nov 12, 1934	Meknes
1	Win	1–0	Marcel Bucchianeri	PTS	6	Nov 10, 1934	Meknes

See also

• List of middleweight boxing champions

External links

• Marcel Cerdan Official website, created by Nicolas Cerdan, his grandson (in French)
• Marcel Cerdan Heritage – Vintage Sportswear (Eng/Fr), created by Nicolas Cerdan, his grandson
• IBHOF.com International Boxing Hall of Fame Homepage
• Marcel Cerdan at Find a Grave
• Boxing record for Marcel Cerdan from BoxRec (registration required)
• Here's Looking At You, Casablanca: Marcel Cerdan