Georges Carpentier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georges Carpentier |
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| Statistics | |
| Rated at | Welterweight Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm) |
| Nationality | French |
| Born | 12 January 1894 Liévin, France |
| Died | 28 October 1975 (aged 81) Paris, France |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 112 |
| Wins | 89 |
| Wins by KO | 57 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Draws | 6 |
| No contests | 1 |
Georges Carpentier (born January 12, 1894 – died October 28, 1975) was a famous French boxer. He was also an actor and even a pilot during World War I. He fought in many weight classes, mostly as a light heavyweight and heavyweight boxer, from 1908 to 1926.
People called him the "Orchid Man" because he was known for his speed, great boxing skills, and very powerful punches. He was about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed between 147 and 175 pounds during his fights. A sports arena in Paris, the Halle Georges Carpentier, is named after him.
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Georges Carpentier's Amazing Life
Georges Carpentier was born in Liévin, France. He started his boxing career at a very young age, just 14 years old! He quickly moved up through different weight divisions. By 1911, he was the welterweight champion of both France and Europe. In 1912, he became the middleweight champion of Europe, and in 1913, he won the light heavyweight championship of Europe.
On June 1, 1913, he defeated "Bombardier" Billy Wells in Belgium to become the heavyweight champion of Europe. He successfully defended this title several times. In July 1914, he beat Ed "Gunboat" Smith in London. This win made him the "White Heavyweight Champion of the World," which was a special title for non-Black boxers at the time. The prize money for this fight was a huge amount, about £9,000, which would be worth a lot more today!
Georges Carpentier was also a referee for some boxing matches early in his career. He even oversaw a world title fight between Jack Johnson and Frank Moran in 1914.
During World War I, Carpentier served as a pilot in the French Air Force. He was very brave and received two of France's highest military awards: the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire. This made him even more popular in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
After the war, Carpentier defended his European heavyweight title twice more in 1919. Then, he decided to move down a weight class to challenge Battling Levinsky for the world light heavyweight championship. He won this fight on October 12, 1920, in Jersey City, New Jersey, knocking Levinsky out in the fourth round.
His biggest fight was on July 2, 1921, when he tried to win the world heavyweight championship against Jack Dempsey. This fight was a huge event, bringing in boxing's first "million dollar gate," meaning it made over a million dollars in ticket sales! Carpentier fought hard but was knocked out in the fourth round. He never fought for that title again.
The next year, on September 24, 1922, he lost his world light heavyweight title and his European heavyweight and light heavyweight titles to Senegalese boxer Battling Siki in a fight that many people found controversial. His last major fight was on July 24, 1924, against Gene Tunney in New York City. Carpentier lost this fight after fifteen rounds. He officially retired from boxing after a final exhibition match in 1927.
Life After Boxing
After retiring from boxing, Georges Carpentier became a vaudeville performer, singing and dancing, mostly in the UK and the US. He also wrote a boxing novel called Brothers of the Brown Owl: A Story of the Boxing Ring.
He appeared in several motion pictures, both silent films and movies with sound. He made three films in Hollywood, one in England, and two in France. His last movie role was in 1934. After his acting career, he opened a fancy bar in Paris called Chez Georges Carpentier. He owned and ran bars until shortly before he passed away.
Georges Carpentier and Jack Dempsey, his famous opponent, remained close friends after their big fight in 1921. They often visited each other in New York and Paris, celebrated the anniversary of their fight, and exchanged birthday wishes.
Later Years and Legacy
Georges Carpentier died in Paris in 1975 at the age of 81 from a heart attack. He was buried in the cemetery of Vaires-sur-Marne, France.
In 1991, he was honored by being elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, recognizing him as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Selected Films
- The Wonder Man (1920)
- A Gipsy Cavalier (1922)
- The Show of Shows (1929)
- Hold Everything (1930)
Boxing Record Summary
| 112 fights | 89 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 57 | 10 |
| By decision | 29 | 4 |
| By disqualification | 3 | 1 |
| Draws | 6 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Newspaper decisions/draws | 1 | |
- Note: Some fights were called "no decision" bouts, meaning no official winner or loser was declared.*
See also
In Spanish: Georges Carpentier para niños
- List of light heavyweight boxing champions
