Battling Siki


Louis Mbarick Fall, 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.

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.

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. In this period he taught boxing at the amateur boxing club De Jonge Bokser.
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, suffering just one loss 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.
, 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. 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, 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.
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.

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.
He was initially buried at Flushing Cemetery, in an unmarked grave. 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. 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". His body was repatriated to Senegal in 1993.

Trivia

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
88Loss60–24–4 Lee AndersonPTS12Nov 13, 1925 104th Regiment Armory, Baltimore
87Loss60–23–4 Joe SilvaniDQ8 Aug 08, 1925 Commonwealth Sporting Club, New York
86Win60–22–4 Jimmy FrancisKO2 Jul 23, 1925 Playgrounds Stadium, West New York
85Win59–22–4 Chief HalbranKO3 Jul 10, 1925 Steeplechase A.A., Rockaway Beach, Queens
84Loss58–22–4 Art WeigandPTS6Jun 25, 1925 Bison Stadium, Buffalo
83Loss58–21–4 Paul BerlenbachTKO10 Mar 13, 1925 Madison Square Garden, New York
82Loss58–20–4 Jack BurkePTS12Dec 04, 1924 Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn
81Draw58–19–4 Frank KearnsPTS10Nov 27, 1924 Arena, Syracuse
80Loss58–19–3 Tony MarulloPTS12Nov 14, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York
79Win58–18–3 Roscoe HallTKO6 Nov 07, 1924 Passaic Armory, Passaic
78Loss57–18–3 Mike ConroyTKO8 Aug 20, 1924 Lorain
77Loss57–17–3 Homer SmithPTS10Aug 11, 1924 Bison Stadium, Buffalo
76Win57–16–3 Dixie KidRTD3 Aug 04, 1924 Fair Grounds Arena, Allentown
75Loss56–16–3 Sergeant Jack LynchPTS10Aug 02, 1924 Clinton Oval, Woonsocket
74Win56–15–3 Blacksmith RussellKO7 Jul 18, 1924 Textile Field, Manchester
73Loss55–15–3 Tut JacksonPTS10Feb 14, 1924 Fort Hayes Arena, Columbus
72Win55–14–3 Joe WhitePTS10Feb 08, 1924 Rochester
71Loss54–14–3 Battling OwensPTS15Jan 21, 1924 Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans
70Win54–13–3 Young NorfolkPTS8Jan 14, 1924 Southern A.C., Memphis
69Win53–13–3 Tony StabenauKO2 Jan 07, 1924 Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo
68Loss52–13–3 Jack TaylorPTS10Dec 25, 1923 Adelphia A.C., Philadelphia
67Loss52–12–3 Kid NorfolkPTS15Nov 20, 1923 Madison Square Garden, New York, United States
66Win52–11–3 Gaston MarmougetKO3 Aug 05, 1923 Arènes du Bouscat, Bordeaux, France
65Win51–11–3 Marcel NillesKO2 Jul 08, 1923 Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France
64Loss50–11–3 Emile MorelleDQ6 Jun 16, 1923 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
63Loss50–10–3 Mike McTiguePTS20Mar 17, 1923 La Scala Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
62Win50–9–3 Georges CarpentierKO6 Sep 24, 1922 Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France
61Win49–9–3 Harry ReeveTKO6 Jul 27, 1922 Marseille, France
60Win48–9–3 Hans DresslerTKO5 Jul 23, 1922 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
59Win47–9–3 Marcel NillesPTS15Jun 23, 1922 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
58 Draw46–9–3 Harry ReevePTS10May 19, 1922 Hippodrome-paleis, Antwerpen, Belgium
57Win46–9–2 Harry ReevePTS10May 11, 1922 Theater Carré, Amsterdam, Netherlands
56Win45–9–2 Alfred BakerPTS12Apr 26, 1922 Frontón Condal, Barcelona, Spain
55Win44–9–2 Louis PiochellePTS12Apr 16, 1922 Stade Municipal, Algiers, Algeria
54Win43–9–2 Martinus VigeTKO6 Mar 31, 1922 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
53Win42–9–2 Frank HochePTS10Mar 23, 1922 Iris Park, Barcelona, Spain
52Win41–9–2 Alphonse RogiersPTS10Mar 15, 1922 Salle de Trocadero, Brussels, Belgium
51Win40–9–2 Jules LenaersTKO2 Mar 03, 1922 Palais des Fêtes, Strasbourg, France
50Win39–9–2 IterTKO2 Feb 02, 1922 Palais des Fêtes, Strasbourg, France
49Win38–9–2 Alphonse RogiersPTS12Jan 17, 1922 Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
48Win37–9–2 Paul JourneePTS15Dec 03, 1921 Velodrome d'Hiver, Paris, France
47Win36–9–2 Jean LeroiKO2 Oct 21, 1921 Magic City, Paris, France
46Win35–9–2 Jean LeroiTKO2 Oct 21, 1921 Magic City, Paris, France
45Win34–9–2 Battling MarcotTKO5 Oct 02, 1921 Arènes des Amidonniers, Toulouse, France
44Win33–9–2 Ercole De BalzacDQ2 Sep 21, 1921 Salle Wagram, Paris, France
43Win32–9–2 Constant BarrickPTS10Aug 21, 1921 Arènes du Rond-Point du Prado, Marseille, France
42Win31–9–2 Gabriel PionnierTKO7 Jul 02, 1921 Salle Wagram, Paris, France
41Win30–9–2 Harry ReevePTS10Jun 14, 1921 De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
40Win29–9–2 Jeff DePausPTS10Apr 29, 1921 Antwerpen, Belgium
39Win28–9–2 Hugo PodzuhnTKO10 Mar 15, 1921 Sagebiel, Germany
38Win27–9–2 Giuseppe SpallaRTD9 Feb 25, 1921 Zirkus Busch, Mitte, Germany
37Win26–9–2 Bertus AhausPTS10Feb 05, 1921 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
36Win25–9–2 Herman SjouwermanPTS10Jan 19, 1921 Paleis voor Volksvlijt, Amsterdam, Netherlands
35Win24–9–2 Hans BreitenstraeterPTS15Jan 14, 1921 Admiralspalast, Mitte, Germany
34Win23–9–2 Jeff DePausPTS10Dec 04, 1920 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
33Win22–9–2 Nicol SimpsonKO1 Oct 25, 1920 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
32Loss21–9–2 Tom BerryPTS15Aug 30, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
31Win21–8–2 Tom BerryPTS10Jun 17, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
30Win20–8–2 Willem WestbroekTKO5 Jun 04, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
29Win19–8–2 Daan HoltkampKO2 Jun 27, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
28Win18–8–2 Bertus AhausPTS10June 13, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
27Win17–8–2 Jimmy Lyggett Sr.PTS10May 29, 1920 Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
26Win16–8–2 Willem WestbroekKO7 May 02, 1920 Circus Schouwburg, Rotterdam, Netherlands
25Win15–8–2 Rene De VosPTS10April 28, 1920 Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
24Win14–8–2 Jeff DePausPTS15Apr 16, 1920 Antwerpen, Belgium
23Win13–8–2 Victor MarchandKO8 April 09, 1920 Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
22Win12–8–2 Maurice LefevrePTS10April 02, 1920 Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
21Win11–8–2 Leon DerensyKO3 Mar 26, 1920 Nouveau Cirque, Paris, France
20Win10–8–2 Jean AudouyTKO4 Feb 16, 1920 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
19Win9–8–2 Billy HenrysPTS12Jan 12, 1920 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
18Loss8–8–2 Felix LeonardPTS10Dec 29, 1919 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
17Win8–7–2 Eugene StuberTKO2 Dec 08, 1919 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
16Win7–7–2 Frank RooseDQ9 May 12, 1918 Arènes des Amidonniers, Toulouse, France
15Loss6–7–2 Eugene TajanDQ7 July 12, 1914 Place Lamourguier, Narbonne, France
14Loss6–6–2 Jules PerroudPTS10June 20, 1914 Salle du Jardin Royal, Toulouse, France
13Win6–5–2 Jules PerroudDQ8 June 04, 1914 Salle du Jardin Royal, Toulouse, France
12Win5–5–2 Pierre NicolasKO2 Feb 19, 1914 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
11Loss4–5–2 Jean AudouyPTS10Feb 07, 1914 Salle des Fêtes, Narbonne, France
10Win4–4–2 Frank RoosePTS10Jan 08, 1914 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
9Win3–4–2 Frank RoosePTS10Dec 16, 1913 Théâtre des Nouveautés, Toulouse, France
8Win2–4–2 Georges CarrTKO3 Nov 29, 1913 Toulouse, France
7Win1–4–2 Georges BertTKO3 May 18, 1913 Montreuil, France
6Loss0–4–2 Bill HenrysDQ3 May 03, 1913 Eldorado-Casino, Marseille, France
5Loss0–3–2 Francois ServatPTS8Mar 27, 1913 Comoedia-Cinéma, Marseille, France
4Draw0–2–2 Fernard PrattPTS8Mar 13, 1912 Comoedia-Cinéma, Marseille, France
3Draw0–2–1 Mario GallPTS8Dec 16, 1912 France
2Loss0–2 Jean ChayneTKO2 Oct 20, 1912 Stand Bènes, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France
1Loss0–1 Louis Maria2 Oct 13, 1912 Stand du Pré-du-Lac, Châteauneuf-Grasse, France