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
Statistics
Real nameMarcel Thil
Weight(s)Middleweight
Nationality French
Born29 May 1904
Saint-Dizier, France
Died14 August 1968(1968-08-14) (aged 64)
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 full adult strength, he developed power 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 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 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 boxing circles 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 retiring 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
Professional record summary
136 fights 106 wins 20 losses
By knockout 49 3
By decision 52 17
By disqualification 5 0
Draws 10
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
136 Loss 106–20–10 Fred Apostoli TKO 10 (15) Sep 23, 1937 Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost IBU middleweight title
135 Win 106–19–10 Lou Brouillard DQ 6 (15) Feb 15, 1937 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU middleweight title
134 Win 105–19–10 Lou Brouillard DQ 4 (15) Jan 20, 1936 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
133 Win 104–19–10 Lou Brouillard UD 12 Nov 25, 1935 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
132 Win 103–19–10 Al Diamond PTS 10 Oct 28, 1935 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
131 Win 102–19–10 Kid Tunero UD 15 Jul 13, 1935 Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
130 Win 101–19–10 Carmelo Candel UD 15 Jun 28, 1935 Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
129 Win 100–19–10 Ignacio Ara UD 15 Jun 1, 1935 Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
128 Win 99–19–10 Vilda Jaks TKO 14 (15) May 4, 1935 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
127 Win 98–19–10 Jock McAvoy UD 15 Jan 14, 1935 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
126 Win 97–19–10 Tino Rolando PTS 10 Nov 12, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
125 Draw 96–19–10 Carmelo Candel PTS 15 Oct 15, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
124 Win 96–19–9 Clemente Meroni PTS 10 Aug 5, 1934 Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
123 Win 95–19–9 Rene De Vos PTS 10 Jul 15, 1934 Sportpaleis, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
122 Win 94–19–9 Oddone Piazza PTS 10 Jun 27, 1934 Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France
121 Win 93–19–9 Adolf Witt TKO 8 (15) Jun 11, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU light heavyweight title
120 Win 92–19–9 Gustave Roth MD 15 May 3, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles;
Retained IBU light heavyweight title
119 Win 91–19–9 Jose Martinez de Alfara DQ 13 (15) Mar 26, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Won IBU light heavyweight title
118 Win 90–19–9 Ignacio Ara UD 15 Feb 26, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
117 Win 89–19–9 Eric Seelig PTS 12 Jan 29, 1934 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
116 Win 88–19–9 Kid Tunero UD 15 Oct 2, 1933 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU and The Ring middleweight titles
115 Win 87–19–9 Jack Etienne PTS 10 Sep 15, 1933 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
114 Win 86–19–9 Eric Seelig PTS 12 May 22, 1933 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
113 Win 85–19–9 Louis Vauclard TKO 6 (?) Mar 8, 1933 Cirque Municipal, Troyes, Aube, France
112 Win 84–19–9 Jack Etienne PTS 10 Feb 25, 1933 Palais des Sports, Schaerbeek, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
111 Loss 83–19–9 Kid Tunero UD 12 Jan 16, 1933 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
110 Win 83–18–9 Charles Van Haecke KO 2 (10) Dec 25, 1932 Casino Municipal, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France
109 Win 82–18–9 Charles Van Haecke TKO 5 (?) Dec 9, 1932 Reims, Marne, France
108 Win 81–18–9 Ignacio Ara PTS 10 Dec 5, 1932 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
107 Win 80–18–9 Len Johnson RTD 8 (10) Oct 31, 1932 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
106 Win 79–18–9 Len Harvey PTS 15 Jul 4, 1932 White City Stadium, White City, London, England Retained NBA, IBU, and The Ring middleweight titles
105 Win 78–18–9 Gorilla Jones DQ 11 (15) Jun 11, 1932 Parc des Princes, Paris, Paris, France Won NBA and vacant The Ring and IBU middleweight titles
104 Win 77–18–9 Jack Hood TKO 7 (12) Mar 21, 1932 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
103 Win 76–18–9 Jimmy Tarante UD 10 Feb 22, 1932 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
102 Win 75–18–9 Franz Boja KO 1 (10) Jan 20, 1932 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
101 Win 74–18–9 Amedee Dubus TKO 4 (10) Dec 12, 1931 Basel, Switzerland
100 Win 73–18–9 Pietro Toscani DQ 3 (10) Dec 1, 1931 Palais d'Hiver, Lyon, Rhône, France Toscani was disqualified for abandoning without justification
99 Win 72–18–9 Jack Kid Casey PTS 10 Nov 9, 1931 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
98 Win 71–18–9 Hermann Klintz TKO 4 (10) Oct 26, 1931 Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
97 Win 70–18–9 Tom Benjamin KO 8 (10) Sep 24, 1931 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
96 Win 69–18–9 Gheorghe Axioti PTS 10 Sep 5, 1931 Roman Arenas, Bucharest, Romania
95 Win 68–18–9 Vince Dundee UD 12 Jul 10, 1931 Stade Roland Garros, Paris, Paris, France
94 Win 67–18–9 Felix Sportiello TKO 8 (10) Jun 18, 1931 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
93 Win 66–18–9 Emile Lebrize TKO 5 (12) Apr 15, 1931 Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France Retained France middleweight title
92 Win 65–18–9 Alexis Marin UD 12 Feb 14, 1931 Casino Municipal, Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes, France Retained France middleweight title
91 Win 64–18–9 Andre Dhainaut KO 9 (12) Jan 11, 1931 Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France Retained France middleweight title
90 Win 63–18–9 Pierre Gandon PTS 12 Dec 10, 1930 Salle Bullier, Paris, Paris, France Retained France middleweight title
89 Loss 62–18–9 Mario Bosisio PTS 15 Nov 23, 1930 Palazzo dello Sport (Pad. 3 Fiera), Milan, Lombardia, Italy Lost IBU middleweight title
88 Win 62–17–9 Motzi Spakow KO 7 (12) Nov 1, 1930 Bucharest, Romania Retained IBU middleweight title
87 Win 61–17–9 Emile Romerio PTS 10 Sep 6, 1930 Gymnase Huygens, Paris, Paris, France
86 Win 60–17–9 Ali Sadek TKO 6 (?) Jul 27, 1930 Reims, Marne, France
85 Win 59–17–9 Alfred Pegazzano PTS 15 Mar 12, 1930 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France Retained IBU middleweight title
84 Win 58–17–9 Alexis Marin PTS 12 Jan 29, 1930 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
83 Win 57–17–9 Eugene Corsin TKO 4 (?) Jan 18, 1930 Amiens, Somme, France
82 Win 56–17–9 Charles Krauchi TKO 6 (?) Dec 27, 1929 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
81 Loss 55–17–9 Fred Shaw PTS 15 Nov 5, 1929 Manchester, Lancashire, England
80 Win 55–16–9 Alfred Pegazzano PTS 12 Oct 16, 1929 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
79 Win 54–16–9 Alexis Marin TKO 4 (10) May 15, 1929 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
78 Win 53–16–9 Leone Jacovacci PTS 15 Mar 27, 1929 Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France Won IBU middleweight title
77 Win 52–16–9 Yvan Laffineur KO 2 (12) Mar 12, 1929 Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France Retained France middleweight title
76 Win 51–16–9 Yvan Laffineur PTS 12 Jan 8, 1929 Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France Retained France middleweight title
75 Win 50–16–9 Billy Farmer KO 1 (10) Dec 5, 1928 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
74 Win 49–16–9 Orlando Leopardi TKO 3 (?) Nov 17, 1928 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, Paris, France
73 Win 48–16–9 Joe Bloomfield KO 2 (12) Nov 2, 1928 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
72 Win 47–16–9 Marcel Thuru TKO 1 (10) Oct 12, 1928 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France Won vacant France middleweight title
71 Win 46–16–9 Pierre Gandon KO 5 (10) Sep 19, 1928 Salle Wagram, Paris, Paris, France
70 Win 45–16–9 Ted Moore TKO 7 (?) Sep 3, 1928 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
69 Win 44–16–9 Guardsman George West KO 5 (15) Jul 23, 1928 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
68 Win 43–16–9 Orlando Leopardi PTS 12 Jul 9, 1928 Tunis, Tunisia
67 Win 42–16–9 Laurie Raiteri TKO 8 (?) Jun 10, 1928 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
66 Win 41–16–9 Andy Newton TKO 10 (20) May 21, 1928 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
65 Win 40–16–9 Daniel Arnaud KO 2 (?) Apr 21, 1928 Saint-Etienne, Loire, France
64 Loss 39–16–9 Len Harvey PTS 15 Dec 12, 1927 Holland Park Rink, Kensington, London, England
63 Loss 39–15–9 Jack Hood PTS 15 Nov 28, 1927 The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England
62 Draw 39–14–9 Guardsman George West PTS 15 Nov 2, 1927 Walham Green Baths, Fulham, London, England
61 Loss 39–14–8 Leone Jacovacci KO 10 (?) Oct 28, 1927 Roma, Lazio, Italy
60 Loss 39–13–8 Joe Bloomfield PTS 12 Oct 3, 1927 Mile End Peoples Palace, Mile End, London, England
59 Win 39–12–8 Bob Youssef PTS 10 Sep 19, 1927 Palais de la Boxe, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
58 Win 38–12–8 Joe Bloomfield PTS 15 Aug 29, 1927 London, England
57 Win 37–12–8 Marcel Forgeon KO 7 (10) Jul 28, 1927 Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France
56 Loss 36–12–8 Billy Farmer PTS 15 Jun 13, 1927 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
55 Win 36–11–8 Andy Newton RTD 9 (?) May 3, 1927 Alcazar, Edmonton, London, England
54 Draw 35–11–8 Maurice Forgeon PTS 10 Feb 13, 1927 Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
53 Win 35–11–7 Battling Mathar PTS 10 Feb 5, 1927 Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
52 Win 34–11–7 Emile Christy PTS 10 Jan 25, 1927 Cirque de Paris, Paris, Paris, France
51 Win 33–11–7 Antonio Gabiola TKO 9 (10) Dec 21, 1926 Teatro Circo Barcelonés, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
50 Draw 32–11–7 Guillermo Arnau PTS 10 Nov 23, 1926 Iris Park, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
49 Loss 32–11–6 Leone Jacovacci PTS 10 Nov 18, 1926 Salle Printania, Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
48 Loss 32–10–6 Raoul Dumondin PTS 10 Nov 6, 1926 Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
47 Draw 32–9–6 Jean Forr PTS 10 Oct 23, 1926 Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
46 Win 32–9–5 Kid Nomo PTS 10 Oct 17, 1926 Central Sporting Club, Paris, Paris, France
45 Win 31–9–5 Young Travet KO 6 (?) Aug 22, 1926 Velodrome Jean Bouin, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
44 Loss 30–9–5 Kid Nitram PTS 10 Aug 8, 1926 Velodrome Jean Bouin, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
43 Loss 30–8–5 Tomas Thomas PTS 10 Jul 15, 1926 Mundial Sport, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
42 Win 30–7–5 Young Travet TKO 1 (10) Jun 6, 1926 Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
41 Win 29–7–5 Louis Citony PTS 8 Apr 12, 1926 Salle Guilbert, Caen, Calvados, France
40 Loss 28–7–5 Gaston Lafont PTS 10 Apr 8, 1926 Cherbourg, Manche, France
39 Win 28–6–5 Eugene Fleurit PTS 8 Mar 1, 1926 France Date & location unknown
38 Draw 27–6–5 Maurice Forgeon PTS 8 Feb 14, 1926 Gymnase Christmann, Paris, Paris, France
37 Loss 27–6–4 Gaston Lafont PTS 10 Feb 12, 1926 Caen, Calvados, France
36 Win 27–5–4 Maurice Forgeon PTS 10 Feb 9, 1926 Cherbourg, Manche, France
35 Draw 26–5–4 Enrico Vittorio PTS 10 Jan 31, 1926 Le Perreux-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne, France
34 Win 26–5–3 Theo Dussart PTS 10 Jan 9, 1926 Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France
33 Win 25–5–3 Raymond Klauss TKO 1 (10) Nov 6, 1925 Cherbourg, Manche, France
32 Win 24–5–3 Pierre Lambinet PTS 10 Oct 20, 1925 Ring Cadet, Paris, France
31 Win 23–5–3 Jean Andre TKO 3 (?) Oct 7, 1925 France Location unknown
30 Win 22–5–3 Jean Fillion KO 2 (?) Aug 31, 1925 France Date & location unknown
29 Win 21–5–3 Georges Morgan KO 2 (?) Aug 1, 1925 France Date & location unknown
28 Win 20–5–3 Enrico Vittorio PTS 10 Jul 27, 1925 Bricquebec, Manche, France
27 Win 19–5–3 Daniel Daney PTS 8 Jun 1, 1925 Saint-Lô, Manche, France Date unknown
26 Win 18–5–3 Max Plouvier KO 3 (?) May 25, 1925 Cherbourg, Manche, France
25 Win 17–5–3 Paul Siterre KO 6 (10) Apr 26, 1925 Vire, Calvados, France
24 Loss 16–5–3 Maurice Forgeon TKO 7 (?) Apr 8, 1925 Cherbourg, Manche, France
23 Win 16–4–3 Eugene Fleurit KO 2 (?) Feb 10, 1925 Cherbourg, Manche, France
22 Win 15–4–3 Albert Michaud KO 3 (?) Nov 1, 1924 France Date & location unknown
21 Win 14–4–3 Henri Cre KO ? (?) Sep 1, 1924 France Date & location unknown
20 Loss 13–4–3 Gaston Lafont PTS 10 Jul 1, 1924 France Date & location unknown
19 Win 13–3–3 Saint Marcelli KO 4 (?) Jun 1, 1924 Cherbourg, Manche, France Date unknown
18 Win 12–3–3 Saint Marcelli PTS 6 May 25, 1924 Lorient, Morbihan, France
17 Win 11–3–3 Henri Benoit PTS 6 May 24, 1924 Lorient, Morbihan, France
16 Win 10–3–3 Tabart PTS 8 Apr 27, 1924 Cherbourg, Manche, France
15 Win 9–3–3 Chambon TKO 7 (?) Apr 1, 1924 Cherbourg, Manche, France
14 Win 8–3–3 Chambon PTS 8 Mar 7, 1924 Cherbourg, Manche, France
13 Win 7–3–3 Feodor Nikolaeff PTS 8 Feb 15, 1924 Caen, Calvados, France
12 Draw 6–3–3 Joe Batt PTS 8 Feb 1, 1924 Cherbourg, Manche, France
11 Win 6–3–2 Edouard Mauconduit PTS 8 Dec 24, 1923 Cherbourg, Manche, France
10 Loss 5–3–2 Eugene Alonzo PTS 8 Nov 7, 1923 Cherbourg, Manche, France
9 Loss 5–2–2 Eugene Alonzo PTS 6 Oct 7, 1923 Cherbourg, Manche, France
8 Win 5–1–2 Motsch TKO 3 (6) Sep 16, 1923 Parc du Casino, Cherbourg, Manche, France
7 Win 4–1–2 Enrico Vittorio PTS 6 Jul 15, 1923 Cherbourg, Manche, France
6 Win 3–1–2 Edouard Mauconduit TKO 4 (?) May 1, 1923 Cherbourg, Manche, France Date unknown
5 Win 2–1–2 Louis Le Bihan PTS 8 Mar 1, 1923 Lorient, Morbihan, France Date unknown
4 Loss 1–1–2 Pierre Milesic PTS 6 Jan 1, 1923 France Date & location unknown
3 Draw 1–0–2 Pierson PTS 4 Oct 7, 1922 Reims, Marne, France
2 Win 1–0–1 Andre Franot TKO 2 (4) May 25, 1922 Charleville, Marne, France
1 Draw 0–0–1 Pierson PTS 4 May 7, 1922 Reims, Marne, France

References
  1. All-Time Pound-for-Pound Rankings (Europe). BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2020-05-16.
  2. "MIDDLE".
  3. "Marcel Thil Boxing Record". BoxRec. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  4. "International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame". IJSHOF. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  5. Fred Apostoli: Boxing Bellhop. The Boxing Register. Retrieved on 2014-09-27.
  6. Death Takes Marcel Thil. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on 2014-09-27.
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