Johnny Famechon, former feather boxing champion, dies at 77
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Former boxing world champion Johnny Famechon has died in Melbourne after a lengthy illness. He was 77.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame announced Famechon's death in a statement on Thursday. Famechon was struck by a car while jogging in 1991 in Sydney, which caused him to suffer a stroke and resulted in an acquired brain injury.
The Australian boxer's most memorable world title victory was his decision win against Cuban Jose Legra for the WBC title at London's Albert Hall in 1969. Famechon boxed professionally for more than 20 years and had a record of 56 wins (20 by knockout), five losses and six draws.
Famechon defended his featherweight world title against Japan's Masahiko Harada, better known as Fighting Harada, six months after beating Legra and won in a controversial decision. In the rematch for the world title, Famechon knocked out Harada in the 14th round in Tokyo.
Famechon attempted to defend his WBC title in May 1970 in Rome against Mexican Vicente Saldivar but lost the fight. He retired from boxing soon after at age 24.
Born Jean-Pierre Famechon in 1945, he moved to Australia from France with his family when he was five.
"Johnny Famechon was one of the most popular Australian boxers of all time," Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said. "Johnny was our humble, skillful world champion, showing the essence of how we see our heroes. He was described as poetry in motion, a master craftsman."
Johnny Famechon: Former world champion dies aged 77
www.bbc.com
The Australian claimed the world title when he beat Cuban Jose Legra on points at the Albert Hall in London in 1969.
Famechon defended his title twice against Japan's Fighting Harada before losing to Mexican Vicente Saldivar in Rome in 1970.
He won 56 of his 67 fights, which included 20 knockouts and five losses, and was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Famechon was born Jean-Pierre Famechon in France and moved to Australia with his family aged five.
He suffered a stroke and an acquired brain injury in 1991 when he was hit by a car in Sydney, but returned to near full health.
In 2022 Famechon became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for significant service to boxing at the elite level.
Johnny Famechon, Australian boxing world champion, dies aged 77
Famechon won the featherweight title against José Legrá in 1969
Retired at 24 after twice defeating Fighting Harada of Japan
www.theguardian.com
Australian former featherweight world champion Johnny Famechon has died in Melbourne at the age of 77.
The boxer’s most memorable victory was his world title win against the Cuban José Legrá at London’s Albert Hall in 1969.
Famechon was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003 and was the third to be elevated to legend status in 2012.
Born Jean-Pierre Famechon in France in 1945, he moved to Australia with his family at the age of five.
He boxed professionally for more than 20 years for 56 wins, six draws and five defeats.
Famechon twice successfully defended his WBC featherweight title against Fighting Harada of Japan, first winning in a controversial points decision, then knocking out his opponent in round 14 six months later.
Johnny Famechon: Australian former boxing world champion dies aged 77
Johnny Famechon was the WBC featherweight champion and boxed professionally for over 20 years with 56 wins, six draws and five losses; earlier in 2022 he became a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list
www.skysports.com
Ex-featherweight world champion Johnny Famechon has died in Melbourne at the age of 77.
The Australian boxer's most memorable victory was his world title win against Cuban Jose Legra at London's Albert Hall in 1969.
Famechon was the 2003 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame's modern category and was the third to be elevated to legend status in 2012.
Born Jean-Pierre Famechon in France in 1945, he moved to Australia with his family at the age of five.
He boxed professionally for over 20 years for 56 wins, six draws and five losses.
Following his world title win in London in 1969, Famechon received the Keys To The City of Melbourne on returning home.
He defended his WBC featherweight title against Fighting Harada of Japan and won in a controversial points decision.
In the rematch for the world title against Harada in Japan six months later, Famechon decisively won by knocking out his opponent in the fourteenth round.
He defended his WBC title in May 1970 in Rome to Mexican Vicente Saldivar and retired at the age of 24 soon after losing the fight in a close points decision.
Famechon, who never fought as an amateur, was trained by professional prize fighter and leading Australian rules footballer Ambrose Palmer.
In 1991 Famechon was hit by a car in Sydney, which caused a stroke and resulted in an acquired brain injury.
Earlier in 2022 he became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for significant service to boxing at the elite level.
Australian boxing great Johnny Famechon dies aged 77
www.france24.com
Sydney (AFP) – French-born Australian boxing legend Johnny Famechon, who became world featherweight champion during a short but stunning career, has died aged 77, officials said Thursday.
Famechon was considered one of Australia's greatest boxers, becoming WBC featherweight champion in 1969 after he beat Cuban Jose Legra on points at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
He defended his title twice against Japan's former world flyweight and bantamweight king Fighting Harada over a career that saw him win 56 of his 67 professional fights, including 20 knockouts.
He retired at just 25 after surrendering his title to Mexican Vicente Saldivar in 1970.
"I am so sorry to learn of the passing away of Australian boxing icon Johnny Famechon," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said on Twitter. "May he rest in eternal peace."
Born Jean-Pierre Famechon in Paris before his parents migrated to Australia when he was five, he was known for his silky defensive skills which earned him the nicknamed "poetry in motion".
"You talk about them doing state funerals for certain people, if anyone deserves one then 'Fammo' certainly does," fellow Australian boxer Jeff Fenech, who won world titles in three weight divisions, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"He was beautiful to watch, just so skilful. He was like Floyd Mayweather, one of those guys who hit and never got hit."
Famechon suffered a stroke and an acquired brain injury in 1991 when he was hit by a car in Sydney, but returned to near full health. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.
Former boxing world champion Johnny Famechon dies aged 77
www.washingtonpost.com
MELBOURNE, Australia — Former boxing world champion Johnny Famechon has died in Melbourne after a lengthy illness. He was 77.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame announced Famechon’s death in a statement on Thursday. Famechon was struck by a car while jogging in 1991 in Sydney which caused him to suffer a stroke and resulted in an acquired brain injury.
The Australian boxer’s most memorable world title victory was his WBC points decision win against Cuban Jose Legra at London’s Albert Hall in 1969. Famechon boxed professionally for more than 20 years and had a record of 56 wins — 20 by knockout — six draws and five losses.
Famechon defended his featherweight world title against Japan’s Masahiko Harada, better known as Fighting Harada, six months after beating Legra and won in a controversial points decision. In the rematch for the world title, Famechon knocked out Harada in the 14th round in Tokyo.
Famechon attempted to defend his WBC title in May 1970 in Rome against Mexican Vicente Saldivar but lost the fight. He retired from boxing soon after at the age of 24.
Born Jean-Pierre Famechon in 1945, he moved to Australia from France with his family at the age of five.
“Johnny Famechon was one of the most popular Australian boxers of all time,” Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said. “Johnny was our humble, skillful world champion, showing the essence of how we see our heroes. He was described as poetry in motion, a master craftsman.”
‘Incredible toughness and gracious spirit’: Aussie boxing legend Johnny Famechon dies aged 77
www.foxsports.com.au
Johnny Famechon was one of the most popular and skilled Australian boxers of all-time but it was a brutal accident outside the ring that proved his incredible toughness and gracious spirit.
Jean-Pierre “Johnny’’ Famechon, 77, has died in Melbourne, leaving behind a reputation as a master craftsman who helped to popularize the sport in Australia.
With silky defensive skills, Famechon was nicknamed “poetry in motion’’ and his deft craftsmanship exemplified why boxing could be called the sweet science.
Famechon’s greatest life challenge came not in the ring but in recovering from being hit by a car near Sydney’s Warwick Farm racecourse in 1991. He was in a coma for 10 days.
Famechon suffered Acquired Brain Injury and a major stroke but two years after the accident started a special rehabilitation program that returned him to near full health.
“It was a tough time but I am back on track,’’ he once told News Corp. “I have led a great life and I am thankful for all of it. You have to take the tough times as well. I have seen some incredible things in Australia and abroad.’
He did indeed.
After moving to Australia from France with his family at the age of five, Famechon stayed on with his father after his mother and younger brother Christian moved back to France a couple of years later.
Despite never fighting as an amateur, he boxed professionally for over 20 years for 56 wins, six draws and five losses. He retired at age 24 saying “I had had so many fights enough was enough.’’
Fellow world champion Jeff Fenech said he received a Christmas card from the featherweight champion every year.
“He lived a great life,’’ Fenech told ben Fordham on 2BG. “He never failed to send me a Christmas card and every time I saw him we would laugh and joke. He was such a beautiful man. On top of his legendary boxing record as a human he was second to none.
“He was the perfect boxing chess match player. He would hit but he never got hit. After his accident everything was about living life to the full.’’
Fellow boxing champion Barry Michael has called for Victoria to give Famechon a state funeral.
“As a kid living in housing commission and seeing Fammo win a world title it was so inspiring to me and many others,’’ Michael said.
“I believe a state funeral would be appropriate because of the sportsman and the man he was.
“He was an idol back then. There was always talk of him fighting Lionel Rose but they were great mates and were never going to fight each other.
“He was super slick, a defensive genius. You couldn’t hit him but he was a pretty good puncher as well. Twenty five per cent of his wins were knockouts. “After the accident was a different person but he was quite cheeky as would occasionally say things which were not politically correct.
“Prior to the accident he was the quietest, most humble man. He was a student of the game.’’
His career contained some memorable golden studs such as his epic world title win against Cuban Jose Legra at London’s Albert Hall in 1969.
The magnitude of the win was such that he received the Keys To The City of Melbourne on returning to Australia and was made the King of Moomba in 1970, a sign of his status as a genuine Australian sporting superstar.
The last fight of his career was a close points loss to Mexican Vicente Saldivar in Rome, a loss he never quite got over.
In photos after the judge’s decision he wore a beret which was a special gift from a fan.
“I saw a guy a few days before the fight and I told him how much I liked that cap,’’ he said.
“He told me if I won the fight he would give it to me. I saw him after the fight and he gave it to me and said “this is yours mate … you won.
“But I have no complaints. I enjoyed my career.’’
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