Battling Siki

Louis Mbarick Fall (September 16, 1897 – December 15, 1925), known as Battling Siki, was a French-Senegalese light heavyweight boxer born in Senegal who fought from 1912 to 1925, and briefly reigned as the World light heavyweight champion after knocking out Georges Carpentier.

Battling Siki
Battling Siki
Born	September 16, 1897 Saint-Louis, Senegal
Died	December 15, 1925 (aged 28) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Boxer

Early years

He was born in the port city of Saint-Louis, Senegal. While still a teenager, Siki changed his name, and moved to metropolitan France, where, by the age of 15, he began his professional boxing career. Siki's early years were inauspicious. From 1912 to 1914 he compiled a record of just eight wins, six losses and two draws.

When World War I erupted, Siki joined the French army, serving in the 8th Colonial Infantry Regiment. During the war he was decorated for bravery in battle with the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire, before being honorably discharged.[1]

Post-war career

After his discharge from the military, Siki resumed his boxing career. In October and November 1920 Siki boxed two matches in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He was romantically involved with a Dutch woman, Lijntje van Appelteer, who became his common-law wife. On December 16, 1921, she bore him a son, Louis Junior.[2] In this period he taught boxing at the amateur boxing club De Jonge Bokser (The Young Boxer).

From November 1, 1919, until he faced Georges Carpentier for the world light heavyweight championship in 1922, Siki compiled the impressive record of 43 wins in 46 bouts (21 KOs), suffering just one loss (on a decision) and two draws. Carpentier, the reigning World and European champion, agreed to fight Siki for the title, and they met in Paris, France, on September 24, 1922.

Siki claimed that he had agreed to take a dive, but when Carpentier dropped Siki, the outraged African decided to get up and fight. Although he had agreed to throw the fight, he did not intend to get beat up doing so.

In the sixth round Siki hit Carpentier with a powerful right uppercut that appeared to put Carpentier down and out for the count. The referee, however, claimed Siki had tripped Carpentier, and awarded the bout to the unconscious champion on a foul. Fearing a riot from the aroused crowd, the three ringside judges overruled the referee, and Siki was eventually declared the champion.

Siki then embarked on a well publicized rampage of partying and carousing. He would walk his pet lion down the Champs-Élysées while wearing his top hat and tuxedo. Siki was known to fire his revolvers in the air in public as a means of prompting his two Great Danes to do tricks. He was constantly reported drinking champagne in night clubs, and spent freely on flashy clothes and partying. He was fond of white women, and both his wives were white.

During this time offers poured in from the United States for the colorful Siki to meet the leading heavyweight contender Harry Wills, middleweight champion Johnny Wilson, and the legendary Harry Greb. Attempts were even made to match Siki with the then reigning heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

Siki photographed in March 1923 with Eugene Stuber at the Claremont Hotel, Howth, Dublin

Instead, Siki signed to defend his title against Irish light heavyweight Mike McTigue on Saint Patrick's Day in Dublin. The bout was controversial and Siki lost his belt on decision and lost the title.[3] This defeat was the first loss in a downward trend of dissipation and poor ring performances suffered by Siki, which culminated in his death a little over a month after his last fight.

After the world title

After losing his European title on a foul, Siki moved to the United States. His record in the States was poor and he failed to defeat any top-notch fighters. His failure to train properly was evident; his record after winning the title was a dismal 11 wins (7 KOS), 17 losses, 1 draw and 2 no contests. It was during this time period that he suffered the only two knockout defeats of his career. On July 23, he married artist Lillian Werner of Memphis, Tennessee, who was seven years his senior, in a civil marriage. Werner was registered as white, making theirs a rare mixed-race marriage at the time. At the time of his wedding, friends of Siki from France alleged that he was still married to a Dutch woman living in France who had born him a child two years earlier.[4]

Even in the States Siki continued to carouse and train on booze and street brawls. Often, he would get drunk in speakeasies, refuse to pay the tab, and fight his way out.

Commemorative plaque in Saint-Louis

Murder and burial

On December 15, 1925, he was stopped by a policeman who saw him staggering drunk on 42nd Street, not far from his apartment in New York City. Siki stated that he was on his way home, and walked off. Later he was found lying face down, shot twice in the back at close range, dead at the age of 28.

The Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, the father of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., presided over his funeral, which was held in Harlem, New York. He was survived by his widow Lillian Werner Phal, whom he had married a year earlier.[5]

He was initially buried at Flushing Cemetery, in an unmarked grave.[6] There were brief ceremonies held in the Flushing Cemetery on 46th Ave and was participated in by representatives of the Senegalese government and of the African Boxing Union: a headstone was dedicated here by the International Veterans Boxing Association.[6] Cherif Djigo, first consul at the Senegalese Mission to the United Nations, stated "This stone represents to us a grand symbol that Battling Siki has not been forgotten".[6] His body was repatriated to Senegal in 1993.[7]

Trivia

• Battling Siki vs. Carpentier was viewed by a young Ernest Hemingway.
• Battling Siki was also the name of one of Che Guevara's commanders.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

91 fights	60 wins	24 losses
By knockout	31	4
By decision	26	16
By disqualification	3	4
Draws	4
Newspaper decisions/draws	3

All Newspaper decisions are regarded as “no decision” bouts as they have “resulted in neither boxer winning or losing, and would therefore not count as part of their official fight record."

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
91	Loss	60–24–4 (3)	Lee Anderson	PTS	12	Nov 13, 1925	104th Regiment Armory, Baltimore
90	Loss	60–23–4 (3)	Billy Vidabeck	NWS	10	Aug 18, 1925	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York
89	Loss	60–23–4 (2)	Joe Silvani	DQ	8 (12)	Aug 08, 1925	Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York
88	Win	60–22–4 (2)	Jimmy Francis	KO	2 (8)	Jul 23, 1925	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York
87	Win	59–22–4 (2)	Chief Halbran	KO	3 (12)	Jul 10, 1925	Steeplechase A.A., Rockaway Beach, Queens
86	Loss	58–22–4 (2)	Art Weigand	PTS	6	Jun 25, 1925	Bison Stadium, Buffalo
85	Loss	58–21–4 (2)	Paul Berlenbach	TKO	10 (12)	Mar 13, 1925	Madison Square Garden, New York
84	Loss	58–20–4 (2)	Jack Burke	PTS	12	Dec 04, 1924	Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
83	Draw	58–19–4 (2)	Frank Kearns	PTS	10	Nov 27, 1924	Arena, Syracuse
82	Loss	58–19–3 (2)	Tony Marullo	PTS	12	Nov 14, 1924	Madison Square Garden, New York
81	Win	58–18–3 (2)	Roscoe Hall	TKO	6 (10)	Nov 07, 1924	Passaic Armory, Passaic
80	Loss	57–18–3 (2)	Mike Conroy	TKO	8 (10)	Aug 20, 1924	Lorain
79	Loss	57–17–3 (2)	Homer Smith	PTS	10	Aug 11, 1924	Bison Stadium, Buffalo
78	Win	57–16–3 (2)	Dixie Kid	RTD	3 (10)	Aug 04, 1924	Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown	Not to be confused with Dixie Kid
77	Loss	56–16–3 (2)	Sergeant Jack Lynch	PTS	10	Aug 02, 1924	Clinton Oval, Woonsocket
76	Win	56–15–3 (2)	Blacksmith Russell	KO	7 (10)	Jul 18, 1924	Textile Field, Manchester
75	Win	55–15–3 (2)	Ray Bennett	NWS	12	Jul 11, 1924	Bellaire
74	Loss	55–15–3 (1)	Tut Jackson	PTS	10	Feb 14, 1924	Fort Hayes Arena, Columbus
73	Win	55–14–3 (1)	Joe White	PTS	10	Feb 08, 1924	Rochester
72	Loss	54–14–3 (1)	Joe Lohman	NWS	10	Jan 31, 1924	Kenwood Armory, Minneapolis
71	Loss	54–14–3	Battling Owens	PTS	15	Jan 21, 1924	Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans
70	Win	54–13–3	Young Norfolk	PTS	8	Jan 14, 1924	Southern A.C., Memphis
69	Win	53–13–3	Tony Stabenau	KO	2 (10)	Jan 07, 1924	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo
68	Loss	52–13–3	Jack Taylor	PTS	10	Dec 25, 1923	Adelphia A.C., Philadelphia
67	Loss	52–12–3	Kid Norfolk	PTS	15	Nov 20, 1923	Madison Square Garden, New York, United States
66	Win	52–11–3	Gaston Marmouget	KO	3 (12)	Aug 05, 1923	Arènes du Bouscat, Bordeaux, France
65	Win	51–11–3	Marcel Nilles	KO	2 (15)	Jul 08, 1923	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France
64	Loss	50–11–3	Emile Morelle	DQ	6 (20)	Jun 16, 1923	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
63	Loss	50–10–3	Mike McTigue	PTS	20	Mar 17, 1923	La Scala Theatre, Dublin, Ireland	Lost world light heavyweight title
62	Win	50–9–3	Georges Carpentier	KO	6 (20)	Sep 24, 1922	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France	Won world light-heavyweight title
61	Win	49–9–3	Harry Reeve	TKO	6 (15)	Jul 27, 1922	Marseille, France
60	Win	48–9–3	Hans Dressler	TKO	5 (6)	Jul 23, 1922	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
59	Win	47–9–3	Marcel Nilles	PTS	15	Jun 23, 1922	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
58	Draw	46–9–3	Harry Reeve	PTS	10	May 19, 1922	Hippodrome-paleis, Antwerpen, Belgium
57	Win	46–9–2	Harry Reeve	PTS	10	May 11, 1922	Theater Carré, Amsterdam, Netherlands
56	Win	45–9–2	Alfred Baker	PTS	12	Apr 26, 1922	Frontón Condal, Barcelona, Spain
55	Win	44–9–2	Louis Piochelle	PTS	12	Apr 16, 1922	Stade Municipal, Algiers, Algeria
54	Win	43–9–2	Martinus Vige	TKO	6 (10)	Mar 31, 1922	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
53	Win	42–9–2	Frank Hoche	PTS	10	Mar 23, 1922	Iris Park, Barcelona, Spain
52	Win	41–9–2	Alphonse Rogiers	PTS	10	Mar 15, 1922	Salle de Trocadero, Brussels, Belgium
51	Win	40–9–2	Jules Lenaers	TKO	2 (15)	Mar 03, 1922	Palais des Fêtes, Strasbourg, France
50	Win	39–9–2	Iter	TKO	2 (?)	Feb 02, 1922	Palais des Fêtes, Strasbourg, France
49	Win	38–9–2	Alphonse Rogiers	PTS	12	Jan 17, 1922	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
48	Win	37–9–2	Paul Journee	PTS	15	Dec 03, 1921	Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
47	Win	36–9–2	Jean Leroi	KO	2 (20)	Oct 21, 1921	Magic City, Paris, France
46	Win	35–9–2	Jean Leroi	TKO	2 (20)	Oct 21, 1921	Magic City, Paris, France
45	Win	34–9–2	Battling Marcot	TKO	5 (15)	Oct 02, 1921	Arènes des Amidonniers, Toulouse, France
44	Win	33–9–2	Ercole De Balzac	DQ	2 (20)	Sep 21, 1921	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
43	Win	32–9–2	Constant Barrick	PTS	10	Aug 21, 1921	Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, France
42	Win	31–9–2	Gabriel Pionnier	TKO	7 (15)	Jul 02, 1921	Salle Wagram, Paris, France
41	Win	30–9–2	Harry Reeve	PTS	10	Jun 14, 1921	De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
40	Win	29–9–2	Jeff DePaus	PTS	10	Apr 29, 1921	Antwerpen, Belgium
39	Win	28–9–2	Hugo Podzuhn	TKO	10 (15)	Mar 15, 1921	Sagebiel, Germany
38	Win	27–9–2	Giuseppe Spalla	RTD	9 (15)	Feb 25, 1921	Zirkus Busch, Mitte, Germany
37	Win	26–9–2	Bertus Ahaus	PTS	10	Feb 05, 1921	Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
36	Win	25–9–2	Herman Sjouwerman	PTS	10	Jan 19, 1921	Paleis voor Volksvlijt, Amsterdam, Netherlands
35	Win	24–9–2	Hans Breitenstraeter	PTS	15	Jan 14, 1921	Admiralspalast, Mitte, Germany
34	Win	23–9–2	Jeff DePaus	PTS	10	Dec 04, 1920	Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
33	Win	22–9–2	Nicol Simpson	KO	1 (15)	Oct 25, 1920	Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
32	Loss	21–9–2	Tom Berry	PTS	15	Aug 30, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
31	Win	21–8–2	Tom Berry	PTS	10	Jun 17, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
30	Win	20–8–2	Willem Westbroek	TKO	5 (10)	Jun 04, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
29	Win	19–8–2	Daan Holtkamp	KO	2 (10)	Jun 27, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
28	Win	18–8–2	Bertus Ahaus	PTS	10	June 13, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
27	Win	17–8–2	Jimmy Lyggett Sr.	PTS	10	May 29, 1920	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
26	Win	16–8–2	Willem Westbroek	KO	7 (10)	May 02, 1920	Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
25	Win	15–8–2	Rene De Vos	PTS	10	April 28, 1920	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
24	Win	14–8–2	Jeff DePaus	PTS	15	Apr 16, 1920	Antwerpen, Belgium
23	Win	13–8–2	Victor Marchand	KO	8 (15)	April 09, 1920	Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
22	Win	12–8–2	Maurice Lefevre	PTS	10	April 02, 1920	Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
21	Win	11–8–2	Leon Derensy	KO	3 (10)	Mar 26, 1920	Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
20	Win	10–8–2	Jean Audouy	TKO	4 (?)	Feb 16, 1920	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
19	Win	9–8–2	Billy Henrys	PTS	12	Jan 12, 1920	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
18	Loss	8–8–2	Felix Leonard	PTS	10	Dec 29, 1919	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
17	Win	8–7–2	Eugene Stuber	TKO	2 (10)	Dec 08, 1919	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
16	Win	7–7–2	Frank Roose	DQ	9 (10)	May 12, 1918	Arènes des Amidonniers, Toulouse, France
15	Loss	6–7–2	Eugene Tajan	DQ	7 (?)	July 12, 1914	Place Lamourguier, Narbonne, France
14	Loss	6–6–2	Jules Perroud	PTS	10	June 20, 1914	Salle du Jardin Royal, Toulouse, France
13	Win	6–5–2	Jules Perroud	DQ	8 (10)	June 04, 1914	Salle du Jardin Royal, Toulouse, France
12	Win	5–5–2	Pierre Nicolas	KO	2 (10)	Feb 19, 1914	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
11	Loss	4–5–2	Jean Audouy	PTS	10	Feb 07, 1914	Salle des Fêtes, Narbonne, France
10	Win	4–4–2	Frank Roose	PTS	10	Jan 08, 1914	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
9	Win	3–4–2	Frank Roose	PTS	10	Dec 16, 1913	Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
8	Win	2–4–2	Georges Carr	TKO	3 (?)	Nov 29, 1913	Toulouse, France
7	Win	1–4–2	Georges Bert	TKO	3 (?)	May 18, 1913	Montreuil, France
6	Loss	0–4–2	Bill Henrys	DQ	3 (?)	May 03, 1913	Eldorado-Casino, Marseille, France
5	Loss	0–3–2	Francois Servat	PTS	8	Mar 27, 1913	Comoedia-Cinéma, Marseille, France
4	Draw	0–2–2	Fernard Pratt	PTS	8	Mar 13, 1912	Comoedia-Cinéma, Marseille, France
3	Draw	0–2–1	Mario Gall	PTS	8	Dec 16, 1912	France
2	Loss	0–2	Jean Chayne	TKO	2 (?)	Oct 20, 1912	Stand Bènes, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France
1	Loss	0–1	Louis Maria	RTD	2 (6)	Oct 13, 1912	Stand du Pré-du-Lac, Châteauneuf-Grasse, France

See also

• List of light heavyweight boxing champions

Notes

1. Lardener, John "Who Shot Battling Siki? The Life And Murder Of A Prizefighter", Deadspin, June 18, 2013.
2. Benson, Peter, "Battling Siki: A Tale of Ring Fixes, Race, and Murder in the 1920s", p. 140.
3. ESPN - McTigue a part of St. Patrick's Day folklore - Boxing at sports.espn.go.com
4. "BATTLING SIKI WEDS WHITE WOMAN HERE: Paris Friends of Senegalese Say Prizefighter Is Already Married to Dutch Girl", The New York Times, July 24, 1924.
5. "BATTLING SIKI SHOT DEAD IN THE STREET: Negro Pugilist Who Knocked Out Carpentier Murdered From Behind When Intoxicated. TWO BULLETS IN HIS BODY". The New York Times. May 26, 1925.
6. Oreskes, Michael (August 7, 1976). "A Crown for an Ex-Champ: Dead Fighter Honored After 50 Years". Daily News.
7. Anderson, Dave (March 28, 1993). "Sports of The Times; Battling Siki Finally on His Way Back Home". The New York Times.

• Benson, Peter (2006). Battling Siki:A Tale of Ring Fixes, Race and Murder in the 1920s. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 1-55728-888-7.
• Bregstein, Philo (1999). Herinnering aan Joods Amsterdam. Amsterdam: De Bezige Bij. ISBN 90-234-3390-4.

External links

• Boxing record for Battling Siki from BoxRec
• Battling Siki - CBZ Profile
• Autobiography