# Marcel Cerdan

Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan (French pronunciation:; 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, a day labourer, and Asunción Cascales, pied-noirs of Spanish origin.

## Boxing career

Cerdan began boxing professionally on 4 November 1934 in Meknes, Morocco, beating Marcel Bucchianeri by a decision in six rounds. He 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.
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 James Toney 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.

## Later years

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 a flight from Paris to New York to visit Piaf, who was performing there.
The aircraft crashed into a mountain on São Miguel Island in the Azores, while on approach to Santa Maria for a scheduled stopover, killing all 48 people on board, including Cerdan and French violinist Ginette Neveu. The following day, LaMotta lauded Cerdan's sportsmanship, saying: "You had to fight him as I did to know what a fine sportsman he was." 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 located in Levallois-Perret, 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 | Date | Location | Notes |
| 114 | Loss | 110–4 | Jake LaMotta | RTD | 9 (15) | 16 Jun 1949 | Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 113 | Win | 110–3 | Lucien Krawczyk | KO | 4 (10) | 8 May 1949 | Stade Philip, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 112 | Win | 109–3 | Dick Turpin | KO | 7 (10) | 29 Mar 1949 | Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England | |
| 111 | Win | 108–3 | Tony Zale | RTD | 11 (15) | 21 Sep 1948 | Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 110 | Win | 107–3 | Cyrille Delannoit | PTS | 15 | 10 Jul 1948 | Palais des Sports, Brussels, Belgium | Won European middleweight title |
| 109 | Loss | 106–3 | Cyrille Delannoit | PTS | 15 | 23 May 1948 | Heizel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | Lost European middleweight title |
| 108 | Win | 106–2 | Lucien Krawczyk | PTS | 10 | 25 Mar 1948 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 107 | Win | 105–2 | Lavern Roach | TKO | 8 (10) | 12 Mar 1948 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 106 | Win | 104–2 | Jean Walzack | KO | 4 (15) | 9 Feb 1948 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | Retained European middleweight title |
| 105 | Win | 103–2 | Giovanni Manca | KO | 2 (15) | 26 Jan 1948 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | Retained European middleweight title |
| 104 | Win | 102–2 | Anton Raadik | UD | 10 | 31 Oct 1947 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 103 | Win | 101–2 | Billy Walker | TKO | 1 (10) | 7 Oct 1947 | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| 102 | Win | 100–2 | Harold Green | TKO | 2 (10) | 28 Mar 1947 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 101 | Win | 99–2 | Bert Gilroy | KO | 4 (10) | 11 Feb 1947 | Seymour Hall, Marylebone, London, England | |
| 100 | Win | 98–2 | Leon Fouquet | KO | 1 (15) | 2 Feb 1947 | Parc des Expositions, Paris, Paris, France | Won vacant European middleweight title |
| 99 | Win | 97–2 | Georgie Abrams | UD | 10 | 6 Dec 1946 | Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 98 | Win | 96–2 | Jean Pankowiak | KO | 5 (10) | 20 Oct 1946 | Stade de la Croix de Berny, Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France | |
| 97 | Win | 95–2 | Holman Williams | PTS | 10 | 7 Jul 1946 | Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 96 | Win | 94–2 | Robert Charron | PTS | 12 | 25 May 1946 | Parc des Princes, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 95 | Win | 93–2 | Joe Brun | KO | 2 (10) | 14 Apr 1946 | Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France | |
| 94 | Win | 92–2 | José Ferrer | KO | 4 (10) | 24 Feb 1946 | Plaza de Toros Monumental, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain | |
| 93 | Win | 91–2 | Edouard Tenet | PTS | 12 | 18 Jan 1946 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 92 | Win | 90–2 | Agostinho Guedes | KO | 1 (10) | 12 Jan 1946 | Coliseu dos Recreios, Lisbon, Portugal | |
| 91 | Win | 89–2 | Victor Buttin | KO | 3 (10) | 8 Dec 1945 | Saint-Etienne, Loire, France | |
| 90 | Win | 88–2 | Assane Diouf | KO | 3 (12) | 30 Nov 1945 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 89 | Win | 87–2 | Tommy Davies | KO | 1 (10) | 19 Oct 1945 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 88 | Win | 86–2 | Edouard Tenet | PTS | 10 | 23 Jun 1945 | Stade de la Croix de Berny, Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France | |
| 87 | Win | 85–2 | Oscar Menozzi | KO | 3 (10) | 3 Jun 1945 | Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
| 86 | Win | 84–2 | Jean Despeaux | KO | 5 (10) | 13 May 1945 | Stade de la Croix-de-Bernay, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 85 | Win | 83–2 | Joe Brun | TKO | 7 (10) | 9 Mar 1945 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 84 | Win | 82–2 | Ralph Burnley | TKO | 2 (3) | 16 Dec 1944 | Brancaccio Theatre, Roma, Lazio, Italy | |
| 83 | Win | 81–2 | Floyd Gibson | PTS | 3 | 14 Dec 1944 | Brancaccio Theatre, Roma, Lazio, Italy | |
| 82 | Win | 80–2 | Clint Perry | KO | 1 (3) | 12 Dec 1944 | Brancaccio Theatre, Roma, Lazio, Italy | |
| 81 | Win | 79–2 | Bouaya | KO | 1 (10) | 21 Oct 1944 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 80 | Win | 78–2 | Joe DiMartino | TKO | 1 (3) | 19 Feb 1944 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 79 | Win | 77–2 | Sammy Adragna | PTS | 3 | 17 Feb 1944 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 78 | Win | 76–2 | Harold Drouhin | KO | 1 (3) | 15 Feb 1944 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 77 | Win | 75–2 | Willie Sampson | KO | 2 (10) | 30 Jan 1944 | Stade Philip, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 76 | Win | 74–2 | Larry Cisneros | KO | 2 (10) | 29 Dec 1943 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers | |
| 75 | Win | 73–2 | James Toney | TKO | 2 (?) | 26 Dec 1943 | Stade Camp Saint-Philippe, Oran, French Algeria | |
| 74 | Win | 72–2 | Bulldog Milano | KO | 2 (10) | 30 Oct 1943 | Stade Philip, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 73 | Win | 71–2 | Larry Cisneros | KO | 6 (10) | 10 Oct 1943 | Stade Camp Saint-Philippe, Oran, French Algeria | |
| 72 | Win | 70–2 | Omar Kouidri | PTS | 10 | 12 Sep 1943 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers | |
| 71 | Win | 69–2 | John McCoy | KO | 2 (10) | 8 Aug 1943 | Stade Petain, Oran, French Algeria | |
| 70 | Win | 68–2 | José Ferrer | TKO | 1 (15) | 30 Sep 1942 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France | Retained European welterweight title |
| 69 | Loss | 67–2 | Victor Buttin | DQ | 8 (10) | 15 Aug 1942 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers | Cerdan disqualified for low blows |
| 68 | Win | 67–1 | Fernand Frely | TKO | 3 (10) | 2 Aug 1942 | Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
| 67 | Win | 66–1 | Victor Jana | TKO | 2 (10) | 25 Jul 1942 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers | |
| 66 | Win | 65–1 | Gaspard Deridder | KO | 1 (10) | 28 Jun 1942 | Grand Palais, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 65 | Win | 64–1 | Fernand Viez | PTS | 10 | 17 May 1942 | Grand Palais, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 64 | Win | 63–1 | Gustave Humery | KO | 1 (10) | 26 Apr 1942 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 63 | Win | 62–1 | Fred Flury | TKO | 7 (10) | 21 Feb 1942 | Palais des Fêtes et des Expositions, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France | |
| 62 | Win | 61–1 | Roby Seidel | TKO | 3 (10) | 31 Dec 1941 | Grand Casino, Vichy, Allier, France | |
| 61 | Win | 60–1 | Roland Coureau | TKO | 9 (10) | 13 Sep 1941 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers | |
| 60 | Win | 59–1 | Joe Brun | TKO | 2 (10) | 20 Jul 1941 | Oran, French Algeria | |
| 59 | Win | 58–1 | Francois Blanchard | KO | 6 (10) | 22 Jun 1941 | Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
| 58 | Win | 57–1 | Omar Kouidri | RTD | 6 (15) | 5 May 1941 | Oran, French Algeria | Retained European welterweight title |
| 57 | Win | 56–1 | Victor Fortes | RTD | 2 (10) | 13 Apr 1941 | Oran, French Algeria | |
| 56 | Win | 55–1 | Victor Janas | PTS | 10 | 9 Mar 1941 | Stade Philip, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 55 | Win | 54–1 | Victor Fortes | RTD | 7 (10) | 2 Feb 1941 | Foyer Civic, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 54 | Win | 53–1 | Young Raymond | RTD | 6 (10) | 26 Jan 1941 | Stade Philip, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 53 | Win | 52–1 | Young Raymond | KO | 1 (10) | 19 Jan 1941 | Foyer Civic, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 52 | Win | 51–1 | Cleto Locatelli | PTS | 10 | 16 Jun 1939 | Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
| 51 | Win | 50–1 | Saverio Turiello | PTS | 15 | 3 Jun 1939 | Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan, Lombardia, Italy | Won European welterweight title |
| 50 | Win | 49–1 | Roger Cadot | TKO | 6 (12) | 21 May 1939 | Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
| 49 | Win | 48–1 | Felix Wouters | PTS | 12 | 22 Mar 1939 | Palais des Sports, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium | |
| 48 | Win | 47–1 | Saverio Turiello | PTS | 12 | 20 Feb 1939 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 47 | Win | 46–1 | Al Baker | TKO | 7 (10) | 4 Feb 1939 | Palais des Sports, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium | |
| 46 | Win | 45–1 | Ercole Buratti | PTS | 10 | 21 Jan 1939 | Automobile Hall, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 45 | Loss | 44–1 | Harry Craster | DQ | 5 (10) | 9 Jan 1939 | Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England | Low Blow |
| 44 | Win | 44–0 | Omar Kouidri | PTS | 12 | 24 Nov 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 43 | Win | 43–0 | Alfred Katter | KO | 5 (10) | 10 Nov 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 42 | Win | 42–0 | Amedeo Deyana | PTS | 10 | 27 Oct 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 41 | Win | 41–0 | Al Baker | PTS | 10 | 15 Sep 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 40 | Win | 40–0 | Victor Deckmyn | PTS | 10 | 3 Jul 1938 | Arenes d'Eckmühl, Oran, French Algeria | |
| 39 | Win | 39–0 | Jean Morin | PTS | 10 | 4 Jun 1938 | Automobile Hall, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 38 | Win | 38–0 | Gustave Humery | KO | 6 (12) | 20 May 1938 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | Cleto Locatelli | PTS | 12 | 5 May 1938 | Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Eduard Hrabak | PTS | 10 | 13 Aug 1938 | Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Charles Pernot | PTS | 10 | 4 Mar 1938 | Stade Communal de Saint Eugène, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Omar Kouidri | PTS | 12 | 21 Feb 1938 | Vox, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Jean Zides | TKO | 9 (10) | 20 Jan 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Eddie Ran | KO | 2 (10) | 13 Jan 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Charles Fedorowich | TKO | 2 (10) | 6 Jan 1938 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Max Ifergane | PTS | 10 | 18 Dec 1937 | Rabat, French Morocco | |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Jean Morin | PTS | 10 | 21 Oct 1937 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Louis Jampton | PTS | 10 | 7 Oct 1937 | Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France | |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Eduard Hrabak | KO | 6 (10) | 13 Sep 1937 | Vox, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Kid Marcel | PTS | 10 | 22 Aug 1937 | Oran, French Algeria | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Ali Omar | TKO | 5 (10) | 3 Jul 1937 | Hall de la Foire, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Omar Kouidri | PTS | 10 | 3 Apr 1937 | Salle de l'Agriculture, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Omar Kouidri | PTS | 10 | 2 Mar 1937 | Rabat, French Morocco | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Maurice Naudin | TKO | 3 (10) | 30 Jan 1937 | Hall de la Foire, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Aissa Attaff | RTD | 8 (10) | 16 Jan 1937 | Central Ring, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Jean Debeaumont | PTS | 10 | 21 Nov 1936 | Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Aissa Attaf | KO | 1 (10) | 8 Nov 1936 | Salle Mazella, Algiers, French Algeria | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Primo Rubio | PTS | 10 | 17 Oct 1936 | La Manutention, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Al Francis | KO | 6 (10) | 2 Aug 1936 | Arenes d'Eckmühl, Oran, French Algeria | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Mariano Castillanos | PTS | 10 | 6 Jun 1936 | Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Kid Abadie | KO | 3 (10) | 27 May 1936 | Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | M Ricardo | TKO | 5 (10) | 23 May 1936 | Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Joseph Martinez | TKO | 9 (10) | 11 Apr 1936 | Taza, French Morocco | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Max Ifergane | PTS | 10 | 7 Apr 1936 | Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Antoine Abad | PTS | 10 | 4 Mar 1936 | Pavillon Bleu, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Mak Perez | PTS | 10 | 14 Dec 1935 | Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Mak Perez | PTS | 10 | 23 Nov 1935 | Salle des Fetes du Maarif, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Francisco Mestres | PTS | 10 | 3 Aug 1935 | Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Joseph Sarfati | PTS | 10 | 19 Jul 1935 | Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Mak Perez | RTD | 2 (10) | 5 Jul 1935 | Roland Garros- Marocain, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Max Privat | RTD | 5 (10) | 13 Apr 1935 | Cirque Melburn, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Leon Benazra | PTS | 10 | 13 Apr 1935 | Cirque Melburn, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Perez III | PTS | 10 | 6 Feb 1935 | Cirque Melburn, Casablanca, French Morocco | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Leon Benazra | RTD | 5 (6) | 12 Nov 1934 | Meknes, French Morocco | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Marcel Bucchianeri | PTS | 6 | 10 Nov 1934 | Meknes, French Morocco | |

## Titles in boxing
### Major world titles

* NYSAC middleweight champion (160 lbs)
* NBA (WBA) middleweight champion (160 lbs)

### The Ring magazine titles

* The Ring middleweight champion (160 lbs)

### Regional/International titles

* European welterweight champion (147 lbs)
* European middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2×)

### Undisputed titles

* Undisputed middleweight champion