Belgian heavyweights

[Robert in NYC]

Anybody here familiar with Albert Syben or Rudy Gauwe?

[Woller]

As far as I know they came from the two different regions of Belgium, so there was quite a bit of rivalery. I have clips of their fights from a TV program about Gauwe. The third fight is listed as a knock out victory for Syben, but if I remember right Gauwe was winning, but left the ring disgusted about the referee´s handling of the fight. I think that Gauwe was knocking Syben down, only to have the referee warning him about illegal punches. I have to watch it again.

Woller

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Karel Sys, or Charles Sys (here, Carlos Sys) who fought many bouts and was any years in Argentina (scored a draw against Archie Moore) was better than this boys

[bennie]

Gauwe was destroyed by a single Bruno right hand, his leg buckling underneath him as he fell. Painful. He limped out of the ring.

Yes, Syben was iced by Pearce, a fight I attended. One left hook did the trick. Syben grovelled in a corner and never really looked like beating the count. Pearce celebrated like he had just won a world title.

[donnellon]

Pierre Charles, was like Sys, World class.

[enrique]

I agree with Martin. Karel Sys was the best Belgian heavyweight of all time.

[donnellon]

Was Sys better than Charles?

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

Dears Friends Enrique and Matt,

Your both are reason: it's an opinion, and you, of course, are very authorized for to say it.

In my opinion,

1 Karel Sys
2 Pierre Charles

I things in the records numbers: W L D WKO T

Karel Sys (born in 1914) (1932-1954) 117 - 15 - 10 - 58 (lost only 2 by K.O.) - 143

Pierre Charles (b in 1903) (1922-1937) 69 - 23 - 9 - 30 (lost 7 by K.O.) - 101

More wins in Sys, and more by K.O., and less lost for Sys and less by K.O., all in more bouts (143 to 101)

Both fought great rivals, Charles retired at only 34, and Sys at 40; in 1943, and in 1952 (nine years after!) Karel Sys win and regained the European Heavyweight Title; Charles in 1929 and 1932

In 1934, Pierre Charles beat on points Isidoro Gastanaga (winner over Mike McTigue, John Henry Lewis, between others) who, three years before, was tko'ed, demolished, by extraordinary Argentinian LH Jose Carattoli (http://amatoboxingsite.multiply.com/notes/item/2015), winner, too, over Tommy Loughran, who defeat Charles

I thinks the Belgian boxing fans are happy with our opinion on their great fighters!

Dear Friends, thanks you very much!

[donnellon]

A case for Charles. He campained more in Britain and America, beat loads of top guys like VonPorat, Neussel, Stribling, Dorval, Gorman, Renault, and a host of similiar level fighters.
Sys had great longevity and the Tangberg fights and THAT Moore drw but overall Charles operated at a higher level IMO.
Either way, two good fighters!

[Woller]

I have just had the time to watch the Rudi Gauwe feature again. In the first fight against Al Syben, Gauwe is counted out while complaining about a low blow. You cannot see the punch, so not possible to say who is right. In the second fight Gauwe knocks out Syben with a booming right hand, not problems there. The third fight is recorded here in Boxrec.com as a TKO win for Syben which is utter rubbish. Here are the facts: In an earlier round Gauwe is knocked down very heavily by a right hand, but comes back as Syben seems to run out of gas. In the 8th round the referee cals break during some infighting and Gauwe lands one featherduster punch on the break plus one more after. Syben stops for a second and then desides to to a dying swan act. First the referee tries to get Syben to rise, but when that fails he counts him out, and then the fun begins. Sybens corner protests angrily, and the referee simply don´t know what to do, as a riot is underways in the arena. At last Gauwe´s manager orders Gauwe to leave the ring. So eiter a knock out victory for Gauwe, a no contest or a disqualification win for Syben, but a TKO win for Syben: No way!

In the feature Gauwe works as a boxing trainer, and works the door at a disco. I have problems with the belgian language, but I understand that at that time Gauwe is recovering from a stab wound, probably at the disco.

Woller

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

A case for Charles. He campained more in Britain and America, beat loads of top guys like VonPorat, Neussel, Stribling, Dorval, Gorman, Renault, and a host of similiar level fighters.
Sys had great longevity and the Tangberg fights and THAT Moore drw but overall Charles operated at a higher level IMO.
Either way, two good fighters!

Yes! Sys and Charles, two good fighters!

[lukep]

Al Syben said Pearce was the White Tyson

[Broomhall]

wasnt Coopmans who fought Ali also from Belgium?

[Caractacus]

That reminds me,has anyone here had any of those fantastic "Belgian Waffles"
that they served at the 1964-1965 World's Fair in Flushing New York?
wow I can still taste em.
they were sooo good.