Marcel Cerdan vs. Cyrille Delannoit (1st meeting)

Cyrille Delannoit 159 lbs beat Marcel Cerdan 159 lbs by PTS in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1948-05-23
• Location: Stade du Heysel, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
• Referee: Tommy Little

"Cyrille Delannoit of Belgium won the European middleweight championship today by outpointing France's Marcel Cerdan in a 15 round upset. Cerdan's backers protested the verdict, but the decision was approved by a large majority of the spectators because Marcel disappointed almost everybody by his indolent showing. Cerdan, who was reported to have been suffering from lumbago, did not train intensively for the bout. Delannoit, who was strong, speedy, and in fine shape, took the play away from his opponent in the first six rounds. The Frenchman hardly did anything until the 7th when he floored the Belgian for a count of six with a right uppercut. Delannoit recovered immediately, however, and was doing all the forcing from that point to the finish." -International News Service [Photo: Marcel Cerdan, left, covers up against the blows of Cyrille DeLannoit]