Rouen
Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...
) is a retired French
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
who represented France in the
heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 3 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the Wo ...
division (– 91 kg) during the 1990s. He won the bronze medal at the
1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany from May 4 to May 15. The eighth edition of this competition, held a year before the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, was organised by the ...
in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, where he was defeated in the semifinals by
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
n legend Félix Savon. A year later he ended up second at the
1996 European Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 1996 European Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Vejle, Denmark from March 30 to April 7. The 31st edition of the bi-annual competition, in which 304 fighters from 35 countries participated this time, was organised by the Europea ...
in
Vejle
Vejle () is a city in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle River and Grejs River and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality ('' kommune'') and the R ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
. A couple of months later Mendy represented France at the
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
.
Early life
Mendy was born in
Rouen
Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...
,
Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
, a region of Western France. He began boxing at the age of 10 and soon came to be noticed by the local trainers, becoming an amateur boxer in the cruiser-weight division at the age of 17. He won various local championships and became vice-champion of France. He then came to be noticed by scouts for the French national team.
Amateur career
In 1990, his first international tournament in Medan, Indonesia, he was the gold medallist. When he returned home, he joined the Battalion of Joinville, E.I.S. (National Army School for Sports) reserved for the French sports elite. This year he also became the Heavyweight Champion of France.
In 1991 he joined the National Institute for the Study of Sports and Physical Fitness (INSEP). There he studied for 5 years while representing France at various international meetings and tournaments collecting various medals and awards. At Almeria, Spain, he beat German Kraulenko and loses a decision to
Željko Mavrović
Željko Mavrović (; ; born 17 February 1969) is a Croatian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, as an undefeated challenger, he faced Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title, but lost in what would be his fin ...
(Croatia).
The following month, a tournament takes place at Boulogne sur Mer. Christophe beats Raymond Meygerse (Germany) and
Igor Andreev
Igor Valeryevich Andreev (russian: link=no, И́горь Вале́рьевич Андре́ев, BGN/PCGN: ''Andreyev'', ISO 9: ''Andreev'', ; born 14 July 1983) is a Russian former professional tennis player. He won three ATP Tour singles ti ...
(Russia) to gain the silver medal. He loses a decision in the final bout to Arnold Vanderlijde (Holland).
In Athens, Greece, at the Mediterranean Games of 1991, Christophe again faces Željko Mavrović and loses in a decision. In Ankara, Turkey, he boxes Rebua and
Georgi Kandelaki
Georgi Kandelaki ( ka, გიორგი კანდელაკი; born April 10, 1974 in Variani, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union) is a retired Georgian boxer of Caucasus Greek descent, and current boxing administrator. He ...
(Geo.) and wins Gold. The day after the final of the 1992 championship, he leaves for Halle, Germany, to take part in the qualifying tournament for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. This time, he will finish fourth and will not go to Barcelona. Disappointed, he leaves the French team and returns Home to Normandy. After a few months of reflection and soul searching, he joins the ranks of the Semi-professionals and wins two contests.
In 1993, the French national team asked Christophe to rejoin to take part in several important competitions. In the Super Heavyweight division, he wins a bout against American, Allan Cromp, in Marseilles. In the Mediterranean Games of 1993 in Béziers, France Christophe won the Gold Medal in the Super Heavyweight category by beating Egyptian, Ahmed El Sayed and the Italian,
Paolo Vidoz
Paolo Vidoz (born 21 August 1970) is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2011 and held the European heavyweight title from 2005 to 2006. As an amateur Vidoz won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in the super-heavyweig ...
.
In February 1994 Djakarta, Indonesia was the location of a qualifying bout for the 1996 Olympic Games. Christophe meets an Australian fighter, the famous Ukrainian Champ
Vitali Klitschko
Vitali Volodymyrovych Klitschko (; uk, Віта́лій Володи́мирович Кличко́ ; born 19 July 1971) is a Ukrainian politician and former professional boxer who serves as mayor of KyivSafarash Khan. Christophe won Gold. The following month, a tournament takes place in Venice, Italy. He is, again, the gold medallist of the super heavyweight class.
Then, at the 1994 World Cup of Boxing, in Bangkok, Thailand, he fights the Cuban,
Roberto Balado
Roberto Balado Méndez (February 15, 1969 – July 2, 1994) was a Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1986 to 1994. At the 1992 Summer Olympics he won a Gold medal in the men's super heavyweight (+91 kg).
A natural heavyweight, h ...
, the number One Super Heavyweight. In spite of a beautiful and dominating effort by Christophe, the Cuban wins on points.
Subsequently, Christophe requested the national team return him to the Heavyweight class. He then meets the 1993 French title holder and finally wins the Heavyweight title.
France was invited to take part in the 1994 Goodwill Games in St Petersburg, Russia. The first bout pitted Christophe against Cuban,
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
. After a beautiful and well executed fight, the Cuban is declared victorious by a slim two point advantage. Félix Savón, during a TV interview (TV5), would go on to say that Christophe is the only boxer able to beat him. In 1995, Christophe Mendy is elected third best heavyweight boxer in the world by the A.I.B.A (International Association of Amateur Boxing).
Highlights
French National Championships (Heavyweight),
Berck-sur-Mer
Berck (), sometimes referred to as Berck-sur-Mer (, literally ''Berck on Sea''), is a commune in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. It lies within the Marquenterre regional park, an ornithological nature reserve.
Geography
Situ ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, 1990:
*1/8: Defeated Marc Alberola RSC 1
*1/4: Defeated Lezin Houessou PTS
*1/2: Defeated Patrice Akam PTS
*Finals: Defeated Jean-Michel Vauquelin PTS
French National Championships (Heavyweight),
Sedan, France
Sedan () is a commune in the Ardennes department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France. It is also the chef-lieu (administrative centre) of the arrondissement of the same name.
Location
The town is situated about 200 km from Paris, ...
, 1991:
*1/8: Defeated Bruno Choppin RSC 2
*1/4: Defeated Dominique Delord PTS
*1/2: Defeated Jean-Michel Vauquelin KO 1
*Finals: Defeated Roberto Leneuve PTS
Tournoi France (Heavyweight), Boulogne, France, 1991:
*1/4: Defeated Raymond Meygerse (Germany) PTS
*1/2: Defeated Igor Andreyev (Russia) PTS
*Finals: Lost to Arnold Vanderlijde (Netherlands) PTS
Chemistry Cup (Heavyweight),
Halle, Germany Halle, Germany may refer to:
* Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, also called ''Halle an der Saale'', or Halle (Saale)
* Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia, also called ''Halle in Westfalen'', or ''Halle (Westfalen)''
* Halle, Bentheim, in the district of Bentheim, ...
, 1992:
*1/16: Lost to Kai Brannkarr (Finland) 7–21
French National Championships (Heavyweight), Liévin, France, 1992:
*1/4: Defeated Said Bechari PTS
*1/2: Defeated Stephane Allouane PTS
*Finals: Defeated Carlos Guerreiro PTS
Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Italy, 1993:
*Finals: Lost to Roland Raforme (Seychelles) by walkover
European Championships
The European Championships is a multi-sport tournament which brings together the existing European Championships of some of the continent's leading sports every four years. The inaugural edition in 2018 was staged by the host cities of Berlin, ...
(Super Heavyweight),
Bursa, Turkey
( grc-gre, Προῦσα, Proûsa, Latin: Prusa, ota, بورسه, Arabic:بورصة) is a city in northwestern Turkey and the administrative center of Bursa Province. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the ...
Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event organised by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). It is held every four years among athletes from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Africa, Asia and Europe. The fir ...
(Super Heavyweight),
Narbonne, France
Narbonne (, also , ; oc, Narbona ; la, Narbo ; Late Latin:) is a commune in Southern France in the Occitanie region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. It is located about from the shores of the Me ...
, 1993:
*1/2: Defeated
Paolo Vidoz
Paolo Vidoz (born 21 August 1970) is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2011 and held the European heavyweight title from 2005 to 2006. As an amateur Vidoz won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in the super-heavyweig ...
(Italy) KO 2
*Finals: Defeated Said Ahmed el-Sayed (Egypt) 6–0
President's Cup (Super Heavyweight)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
, February 1994:
*1/2: Defeated
Vitali Klitschko
Vitali Volodymyrovych Klitschko (; uk, Віта́лій Володи́мирович Кличко́ ; born 19 July 1971) is a Ukrainian politician and former professional boxer who serves as mayor of KyivSafarish Khan
Safarish Khan (born 31 March 1970) is a Pakistani boxer. He competed in the men's super heavyweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and co ...
(Pakistan)
French National Championships (Super Heavyweight), Saint-Lo, France, 1994:
*1/2: Defeated Norbert Ollhoff RSC 1
*Finals: Defeated Claude Bevis RSC 3
World Cup
A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...
(Super Heavyweight),
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population ...
, 1994:
*1/8: Lost to
Roberto Balado
Roberto Balado Méndez (February 15, 1969 – July 2, 1994) was a Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1986 to 1994. At the 1992 Summer Olympics he won a Gold medal in the men's super heavyweight (+91 kg).
A natural heavyweight, h ...
(Cuba) 4–24
Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Italy, 1994:
*1/4: Defeated
Lamon Brewster
Lamon Tajuan Brewster (born June 5, 1973) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2010. He held the WBO heavyweight title from 2004 to 2006, and is best known for scoring an upset knockout victory over Wladimir Klitsc ...
(United States) PTS
*1/2: Defeated Roland Raforme (Seychelles) RSCI 3
*Finals: Defeated Erik Fuhrmann (Germany) 6–2
Goodwill Games
The Goodwill Games were an international sports competition created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s. In 1979, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused the United States and other ...
(Heavyweight),
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
, 1994:
*1/4: Lost to
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
(Cuba) 6–8
Copenhagen Cup (Heavyweight),
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
Matanzas, Cuba
Matanzas (Cuban ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas (Spanish ''Bahia de Matanzas''), east ...
, 1995:
*1/4: Defeated Alexis Echevarria (Cuba) RSC 1
*1/2: Lost to
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
(Cuba) by walkover
Trofeo Italia (Heavyweight), Mestre, Italy, 1995:
*Finals: Defeated Jonas Dambrauskas (Lithuania) RET 3
USA–France Duals (Heavyweight),
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
World Championships
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
(Heavyweight),
Berlin, Germany
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constituent ...
, 1995:
*1/8: Defeated Tao Jiang (China) 16–5
*1/4: Defeated
Wojciech Bartnik
Wojciech Stanisław Bartnik (born 2 December 1967 in Olesnica) is a former southpaw boxer from Poland, who won a Light Heavyweight Bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Amateur career
*1992 – Bronze Medal (Light Heavyweight) at the ...
(Poland) 7–2
*1/2: Lost to
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Ostrava (; pl, Ostrawa; german: Ostrau ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic, and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 280,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rive ...
, October 1995:
*Finals: Lost to Jan Bezvoda (Czech Republic) 6–8
Strandzha Cup
The Strandzha Cup ( bg, Купа Странджа, also spelled Strandja Cup and officially known as the Strandja Memorial) is an international amateur boxing tournament held annually in Bulgaria. It often determines who will qualify to compete at ...
(Heavyweight),
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...
Georgi Kandelaki
Georgi Kandelaki ( ka, გიორგი კანდელაკი; born April 10, 1974 in Variani, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union) is a retired Georgian boxer of Caucasus Greek descent, and current boxing administrator. He ...
(Georgia) RET 2
*Finals: Lost to
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
(Cuba) by walkover
European Championships
The European Championships is a multi-sport tournament which brings together the existing European Championships of some of the continent's leading sports every four years. The inaugural edition in 2018 was staged by the host cities of Berlin, ...
(Heavyweight)
Vejle, Denmark
Vejle () is a city in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle River and Grejs River and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality ('' kommune'') and the R ...
Cathal O'Grady
Cathal O'Grady (born 6 March 1977) is an Irish former boxer. He competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and comm ...
(Ireland) 10–6
*1/4: Defeated
Georgi Kandelaki
Georgi Kandelaki ( ka, გიორგი კანდელაკი; born April 10, 1974 in Variani, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union) is a retired Georgian boxer of Caucasus Greek descent, and current boxing administrator. He ...
(Georgia) 7–2
*1/2: Defeated
Kwamena Turkson
Papa Kwamena Andze Turkson (born 17 January 1976) is a retired male boxer from Sweden.
Turkson competed for his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was stopped in the second round of the men's heavyweight d ...
(Sweden) 7–2
*Finals: Lost to
Luan Krasniqi
Luan Krasniqi (born 10 May 1971) is a German actor and former professional boxer. He held the European heavyweight title and also challenged for the WBO world heavyweight title.
Background
Krasniqi is the youngest of eight children to Kosovar ...
(Germany) 7–8
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...
(Heavyweight),
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, 1996:
*1/8: Defeated
Ovidiu Bali
Ovidiu Bali (born 14 February 1975) is a Romanian boxer. He competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly ...
(Romania) RSCH 2
*1/4: Lost to
David Defiagbon
David Dejiro Defiagbon (12 June 1970 – 24 November 2018) was a Nigerian boxer. Nicknamed "The Dream", Defiagbon fought for Canada and won the heavyweight silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Amateur
Born in Sapele, Nigeria, Defiagbon w ...
(Canada) DQ 3
Mendy finished his amateur career with 88 fights under his belt, 73 wins (31 KOs), 14 losses, 1 draw. While in amateurs, he was defeated four times by Cuban boxing legend
Félix Savón
Félix Savón Fabre (born 22 September 1967) is a retired Cuban amateur boxer, who competed from 1980 to 2000. Considered one of the all-time greatest amateur boxers, he became three-time Olympic gold medalist, and the World Champion six times ...
. Cubans happened to be the toughest opponents for Mendy (he lost 5 out of 6 match-ups against Cubans.)
Professional career
Although Mendy fought professionally once in 1993 while classified as an amateur, he officially launched his pro career in 1995. He had limited success as a pro, and retired in 2000 after having won 14 (9 KOs,) lost 4 with 2 KO-losses, and 1 draw.