Jean Marc Renard RIP

[Old bones Ian]

Jean Marc Renard dead

By Per Ake Persson

Yesterday evening came the sad news that former EBU champ Jean Marc Renard, age 52, had been found dead by his wife in their home in Tenneville, Belgium. Reason for death appears to be suicide. He left several goodbye notes explaining his actions as to problems in the marriage.

Renard turned pro in 1980 and was 6-0 in 81 when he took on another future champ in Barry McGuigan in Belfast losing on points over eight. In his next fight, in Wales, he lost by a half point to Steve Sims but from then on it was up and away. In 1984 Renard won the EBU title at jr light with a close points win over Alfred Raininger only to lose it in his first defence to Pat Cowdell. In 1986 Jean Marc regained the title and held on to it beating the likes of Najib Daho and Antonio Renzo and drawing with Daniel Londas.

Renard relinquished the EBU title in 87 to concentrate on a world title shot but also to allow his brittle hands time to heal. Later he regained the EBU crown beating Farid Benredjeb with a hand broken in three different places. In May of 1989 he challenged for the WBA title held by Antonio Esparragoza but Renard, probably by then over the hill, was knocked out in the sixth.

In august of 89 Jean Marc Renard - with a lucrative EBU titlefight against Paul Hodkinson in sight - announced his retirement due to handinjuries. Renard run for a number of years a timber trade taking care of selling and delivery, remained in shape and did relatively well - or so it seemed.

Jean Marc Renard rates as one of the best Belgian fighters in history and an alltime great in Europe. His total record was 40-4-1 with many of his most important fights taking place in his opponent´s backyard.

[bennie]

Fine fighter, who was robbed blind here against Sims, gave McGuigan a war, made smooth-boxing Cowdell look scrappy and hammered Najib Daho over in Belgium (a fight I attended). He licked a host of British fighters in Belgium.
I like McGuigan's quote about him: "Every time I threw the left hook he threw a right hand - every time," said Barry.
Renard deserved more than one shot at a world title.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

and hammered Najib Daho over in Belgium (a fight I attended). He licked a host of British fighters in Belgium.

I was there also and Renard didn't hammer Daho - Daho was giving him a stiff argument until a smashed up mouth forced him to retire on an injury.

Renard was an excellent fighter though - RIP!

[bennie]

Renard put in a huge fourth round, and was piling it on again in the fifth when Daho turned his back, claiming an injury. It takes someone special to make Najib Daho quit in a European title fight just a few weeks after Barry Michael had failed to budge the Manchester warrior in a 12-rounder.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Renard put in a huge fourth round, and was piling it on again in the fifth when Daho turned his back, claiming an injury. It takes someone special to make Najib Daho quit in a European title fight just a few weeks after Barry Michael had failed to budge the Manchester warrior in a 12-rounder.

There was blood all over the place - it was a nasty injury - if memory serves me right - a tooth lodged into Najib's bottom lip.

Kortjik (spelling? - Flemish) was a pretty nice place - I recommend the 'moules et frites' in the old town!

[bennie]

Daho suffered an injury, sure. He was getting hurt and getting licked.
Tell you my overriding memory of the trip (and of Renard). We flew in from Manchester and stopped at the same hotel as Team Daho (headed by the amiable Jack "Daniels" Trickett). We were having a meal in the hotel on the afternoon of the show when Najib suddenly appeared in the dining room with his fit Mrs. Someone casually asked him where Renard was staying. "He's behind you," said Najib. We turned round and Renard, who was having a meal himself, was really screwing Daho, never taking his eyes off him.
Only in boxing.

[Old bones Ian]

He was also the first to floor Barry McGuigan.