BoxRec

anyone ever heard of this guy? I did a search for him on here but didnt see him. He was the ref of the Jack Johnson Frank Moran fight 6/27/1914. Apparently he captured a french title in each 8 weightclass by the time he was 19. Flyweight to Heavyweight. He is the only person to ever pull that off, in the world. I know I know, its a french boxing story, but it is pretty damn impressive. Not to mention Reffing a World Heavyweight championship bout at 19! If anyone knows more about this guy, let me know. Thanks

He was a very great fighter who is often overlooked these days, good boxer with a great punch... He was world Light-Heavyweight champion 1920 to 1922 and in '21 fought Jack Dempsey for the world heavyweight title in a legendary fight which was the richest title fight of its time. Carpenteir only held French titles at Welter and Heavyweight I believe but he held the Europeon title at Welter, Middleweight, Lightheavyweight and Heavyweight... he had a knack for koing Britains top fighters in one round, doing this to Billy Wells, Joe Beckett and Ted 'kid' Lewis... though the Lewis win was conroversial.
Carpentier was a hero in WW1 and brought out two autobiographies which are both good reads......

sockdollanger wrote:anyone ever heard of this guy? I did a search for him on here but didnt see him. He was the ref of the Jack Johnson Frank Moran fight 6/27/1914. Apparently he captured a french title in each 8 weightclass by the time he was 19. Flyweight to Heavyweight. He is the only person to ever pull that off, in the world. I know I know, its a french boxing story, but it is pretty damn impressive. Not to mention Reffing a World Heavyweight championship bout at 19! If anyone knows more about this guy, let me know. Thanks

I think that he and Dempsey drew the first Million dollar gate when he challenged for Dempseys title in the early '20's. Tex Rickard used the angle of Carpentiers exploits as a first world war hero in contrast to Dempsey's rep as a draft dodger to publicize the match, and it sold. He did shake Dempsey with a left hook, but broke his thumb on Dempseys head, got ko'd in 4.
Again, not certain but I think George still holds the record for quickest Ko in European Heavyweight title against a brit (Gunboat Smith?).

witherspoon wrote:

sockdollanger wrote:anyone ever heard of this guy? I did a search for him on here but didnt see him. He was the ref of the Jack Johnson Frank Moran fight 6/27/1914. Apparently he captured a french title in each 8 weightclass by the time he was 19. Flyweight to Heavyweight. He is the only person to ever pull that off, in the world. I know I know, its a french boxing story, but it is pretty damn impressive. Not to mention Reffing a World Heavyweight championship bout at 19! If anyone knows more about this guy, let me know. Thanks

I think that he and Dempsey drew the first Million dollar gate when he challenged for Dempseys title in the early '20's. Tex Rickard used the angle of Carpentiers exploits as a first world war hero in contrast to Dempsey's rep as a draft dodger to publicize the match, and it sold. He did shake Dempsey with a left hook, but broke his thumb on Dempseys head, got ko'd in 4.
Again, not certain but I think George still holds the record for quickest Ko in European Heavyweight title against a brit (Gunboat Smith?).

Sorry Silkov, we must have been typing at the same time. You beat me to the post.

He was one of the best ever European boxers, and led a truely amazing life, which included being highly decorated in WW1. Although I've read that the claims of him winning titles from fly to heavy are exaggurated

witherspoon wrote:Sorry Silkov, we must have been typing at the same time. You beat me to the post.

Ditto

great response times gentleman! I figured the 8 titles in 8 classes was a bit far fetched. Im suprised this is the first Ive heard of him.

One of the few fighters to move up so much in weight and still carry his punch and compete at the very top. Started very young and scored some really great wins throughout his career. Probably the best fighter to ever come out of France.

The Dempsey Carpentier fight was a huge event. The fight as was previously mentioned was marketed as war hero vs. draft dodger.I always thought it was interesting that a stadium was built for this fight , a t a place called Boyles 30 acres, I believe N. J. After Dempseys career he enlisted in the Coast Guard and saw some action in WW2. The press said he was now a hero. Dempsey said " They called me a slacker in WW1 and a hero in WW2 they were wrong both times.

They actually built several stadiums just for fights in that era. There was a arena built in Shelby and I think also when Dempsey fought Willard for the title, though I may be wrong about that one. If I'm not mistaken there was an arena built for the Joe Gans-Bat Nelson bout in Goldfield, NV as well.

Facsinating era. I believe I read something about the Boyles thirty acres stadium being built with unfinished wood, did a real number on peoples clothes.

As a sidenote: Dempsey carried Carpentier for three rounds before knocking him out.

Decagon wrote:

sockdollanger wrote:great response times gentleman! I figured the 8 titles in 8 classes was a bit far fetched. Im suprised this is the first Ive heard of him.

It is a little far fetched. It also isn't true. Carpentier claimed French titles in eight weight divisions because he beat Charles Ledoux, who held French titles at flyweight and bantamweight, and because he held the French titles at welterweight and heavyweight. He was also European Middleweight Champion and World Light Heavyweight Champion.

There are a lot of legends about Carpentier, including him being the European Kickboxing Champion at age 13. 100 years ago, I read a book about him that dealt with that crap, and it read like fiction. I really don't think he was that good from watching footage of him.

For someone who wasn't that good he didn't have a bad career!... wonder what he would have done if he could fight!!!...

Georges was one of the best if not the best European boxer ever.

He fought out of his weight class often but still got the results.

He broke his thumb against Dempsey and this to anybody who has even just bent the thumb back will agree is very very painfull and will seriously restrict the use of that hand.

He did french style kick boxing as a young boy only.

From what I've read Carpenteir hurt Dempsey with body punches and this provoked Dempsey to go all out for the win... it was far from an easy fight for Jack...

I wasn't too impressed by Carpentier from seeing 8 of his fights. Even Ted (Kid) Lewis, who Carpentier beat in the 1st round, looked more clever boxer to me. Battling Siki looked as a better boxer too, and rightfully won (although he started to lose every 2nd bout after that, which hurts Carpentier's case even more).
Marcek Cerdan was certainly better boxer from France than Carpentier.

sockdollanger wrote:anyone ever heard of this guy? I did a search for him on here but didnt see him. He was the ref of the Jack Johnson Frank Moran fight 6/27/1914. Apparently he captured a french title in each 8 weightclass by the time he was 19. Flyweight to Heavyweight. He is the only person to ever pull that off, in the world. I know I know, its a french boxing story, but it is pretty damn impressive. Not to mention Reffing a World Heavyweight championship bout at 19! If anyone knows more about this guy, let me know. Thanks

i have a great set of articles published in the press of the day and plenty of info is contained about him.If you email me I will send them to you. The accounts of his fight with Siki are also well worth a read as they a so funny. should you not be aware Siki was a raving lunatic and I wish they would make a film about him.

you should get them any moment mate