Georges Carpentier

Georges Carpentier
Statistics
Weight(s)	Welterweight Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm)[1]
Nationality	French
Born	January 12, 1894[1] Liévin, France
Died	October 28, 1975(1975-10-28) (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 (French pronunciation: ​[ʒɔʁʒ kaʁ.pɑ̃ˈtje]; January 12, 1894 – October 28, 1975) was a French boxer, actor and World War I pilot.^[2] He fought mainly as a light heavyweight and heavyweight in a career lasting from 1908 to 1926. Nicknamed the "Orchid Man",^[1] he stood 5 feet 11+1⁄2 inches (182 cm) and his fighting weight ranged from 147 to 175 pounds (67 to 79 kg).^[1] Carpentier was known for his speed, his excellent boxing skills and his extremely hard punch. The Parisian Sports Arena Halle Georges Carpentier is named after him.

Biography[]

Born in Liévin in Pas-de-Calais, Carpentier began his career by progressing up through the weight divisions, fighting in every division from welterweight upwards. After making his first professional bout at age 14, he was welterweight champion of France and of Europe in 1911, middleweight champion of Europe in 1912, and light heavyweight champion of Europe in 1913. On June 1, 1913, he beat "Bombardier" Billy Wells in Ghent, Belgium to become heavyweight champion of Europe. He defended his title in December against Wells, in January 1914 against Pat O'Keeffe and in London on July 16 he beat Ed "Gunboat" Smith to add the "White Heavyweight Champion of the World" to his European title. The white heavyweight title bout sported a purse worth 9,000 pounds sterling (equivalent to approximately $1,092,914 in today's funds^[3]).

Carpentier was also a referee during the early stages of his career, supervising a number of fights including the world title bout between Jack Johnson and Frank Moran in June 1914. Carpentier was a French Air Force aviator during World War I and was awarded two of the highest French military honors, the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire. This served to heighten his already exceptional popularity, not only in France but in the United States and England as well.

Dempsey and Carpentier in the arena before the fight

Carpentier defended his title twice again in 1919 before dropping down a weight class to challenge Battling Levinsky for the light heavyweight championship of the world.^[4] The fight took place on October 12, 1920, in Jersey City and Levinsky was knocked out in the fourth. Carpentier's attempt at the heavyweight Championship of the world came on July 2, 1921, again in Jersey City, when he faced Jack Dempsey in front of boxing's first million dollar gate (approximately $15,000,000 today). Carpentier was badly beaten around before suffering a knockout in the second minute of the fourth round. Carpentier never fought again for that title. He lost his world light heavyweight title and his European heavyweight and light heavyweight titles the following year, on September 24, 1922, in a controversial bout with Senegalese fighter Battling Siki. His last truly noteworthy fight was on July 24, 1924, with Gene Tunney at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, New York City. Carpentier lost the bout by TKO after fifteen rounds. He retired from the ring after a final exhibition bout in 1927.

In June 1921, cartoonist Tad Dorgan drew what he expected would occur in the Carpentier-Dempsey fight.

Following his retirement from boxing, Carpentier spent a number of years as a vaudeville song-and-dance man, mostly in England and the US. He is the author of a boxing novel, Brothers of the Brown Owl: A Story of the Boxing Ring published c. 1920 by Cassell and Company (being a volume in the uniform Cassell's Empire Library). He also appeared in half a dozen motion pictures, starring in both silent films and talkies. He made three films in Hollywood, one for director J. Stuart Blackton in England and two in his native France. His last screen appearance was in 1934. Soon after, he became proprietor of an upmarket bar, Chez Georges Carpentier, in a chic Paris neighborhood. In several different locations, this is the profession he would exercise until shortly before his death.

From the time they boxed together in 1921, Carpentier remained close friends with Jack Dempsey. They visited each other in New York and Paris, got together to commemorate the anniversary of their famous bout and exchanged birthday greetings.

Death[]

Carpentier died in Paris in 1975 of a heart attack, and was buried in the cimetière de Vaires-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France.^[2]

Legacy[]

He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.^[5]

Selected filmography[]

• The Wonder Man (1920)
• A Gipsy Cavalier (1922)
• The Show of Shows (1929)
• Hold Everything (1930)

Professional boxing record[]

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted as a win, loss or draw.

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
112	Win	89–15–6 (2)	Rocco Stramaglia	KO	3 (12)	Sep 15, 1926	Elks Gym, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
111	Win	88–15–6 (2)	Jack Burke	KO	2 (4)	Jul 7, 1926	Denver, Colorado, U.S.
110	Loss	87–15–6 (2)	Tommy Loughran	UD	10	Jun 17, 1926	Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
109	Draw	87–14–6 (2)	Eddie Huffman	PTS	10	May 21, 1926	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
108	Loss	87–14–5 (2)	Gene Tunney	TKO	15 (15)	Jul 24, 1924	Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
107	Loss	87–13–5 (2)	Tommy Gibbons	NWS	10	May 31, 1924	Floyd Fitzsimmons' Arena, Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.
106	Win	87–13–5 (1)	Arthur Townley	KO	2 (10)	May 1, 1924	Stadion Hohe Warte, Vienna, Austria
105	Win	86–13–5 (1)	Joe Beckett	KO	1 (20)	Oct 1, 1923	Olympia, Kensington, London, England	Won vacant IBU heavyweight title
104	Win	85–13–5 (1)	Marcel Nilles	KO	8 (20)	May 6, 1923	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, Hauts-de-Seine, France	Won vacant France heavyweight title
103	Loss	84–13–5 (1)	Battling Siki	KO	6 (20)	Sep 24, 1922	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, Hauts-de-Seine, France	Lost NBA, NYSAC, and IBU light-heavyweight titles Lost IBU heavyweight title
102	Win	84–12–5 (1)	Ted "Kid" Lewis	KO	1 (20)	May 11, 1922	Olympia, Kensington, London, England	Retained NBA, NYSAC, and IBU light-heavyweight titles
101	Win	83–12–5 (1)	George Cook	KO	4 (10)	Jan 12, 1922	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England
100	Loss	82–12–5 (1)	Jack Dempsey	KO	4 (12)	Jul 2, 1921	Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.	For world and inaugural NBA heavyweight titles
99	Win	82–11–5 (1)	Battling Levinsky	KO	4 (12)	Oct 12, 1920	Westside Ballpark, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.	Won world and vacant NYSAC light-heavyweight titles
98	Win	81–11–5 (1)	Georges Grundhoven	KO	2 (15)	Feb 21, 1920	Palais du Soleil, Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes, France
97	Win	80–11–5 (1)	Blink McCloskey	KO	2 (15)	Jan 10, 1920	Alhambra, Bordeaux, Gironde, France
96	Win	79–11–5 (1)	Joe Beckett	KO	1 (20)	Dec 4, 1919	Holborn Stadium, Holborn, London, England	Retained IBU heavyweight title
95	Win	78–11–5 (1)	Jean Croissilles	KO	2 (20)	Sep 29, 1919	Teatro Bellas Artes, San Sebastian, País Vasco, Spain
94	Win	77–11–5 (1)	Dick Smith	KO	8 (20)	Jul 19, 1919	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France	Retained IBU light-heavyweight title
93	Win	76–11–5 (1)	Kid Jackson	DQ	4 (15)	Jul 26, 1914	Bordeaux, Gironde, France	Jackson was disqualified for hitting low
92	Win	75–11–5 (1)	Gunboat Smith	DQ	6 (20)	Jul 16, 1914	Olympia, Kensington, London, England	Won vacant 'white' world heavyweight title
91	Win	74–11–5 (1)	Battling Robinson	KO	3 (?)	Jun 14, 1914	Place du Champ-de-Mars, Beziers, Hérault, France
90	Win	73–11–5 (1)	Hubert Roc	KO	2 (12)	May 31, 1914	Hippodrome, Valenciennes, Nord, France
89	Win	72–11–5 (1)	George Mitchell	TKO	1 (6)	Apr 14, 1914	Salle Lerda, Paris, France
88	Win	71–11–5 (1)	Irish O'Mara	KO	2 (15)	Apr 13, 1914	Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France
87	Loss	70–11–5 (1)	Joe Jeannette	PTS	15	Mar 21, 1914	Luna Parc, Porte Maillot, Paris, France
86	Win	70–10–5 (1)	Pat O'Keeffe	KO	2 (15)	Jan 19, 1914	Eldorado-Casino, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
85	Win	69–10–5 (1)	Bombardier Billy Wells	KO	1 (20)	Dec 8, 1913	National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, London, England	Retained IBU heavyweight title
84	Win	68–10–5 (1)	Max Abbat	KO	3 (12)	Oct 31, 1913	Kursaal de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
83	Win	67–10–5 (1)	Jeff Smith	PTS	20	Oct 11, 1913	Luna Park Arena, Paris, France
82	Win	66–10–5 (1)	Ashley Williams	KO	4 (12)	Aug 6, 1913	Casino-Kursaal, Vichy, Allier, France
81	Win	65–10–5 (1)	Albert Lurie	TKO	3 (?)	Jun 29, 1913	Arènes de la Benatte, Bordeaux, Gironde, France
80	Win	64–10–5 (1)	Bombardier Billy Wells	KO	4 (20)	Jun 1, 1913	Feestpaleis, Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium	Won inaugural IBU heavyweight title
79	Win	63–10–5 (1)	George Gunther	PTS	15	Mar 17, 1913	Eldorado-Casino, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
78	Win	62–10–5 (1)	Willy Schoot	KO	2 (10)	Mar 8, 1913	Casino-Palace, Roubaix, Nord, France
77	Win	61–10–5 (1)	Cyclone Smith	KO	3 (20)	Mar 1, 1913	Eldorado-Casino, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
76	Win	60–10–5 (1)	Bandsman Dick Rice	KO	2 (20)	Feb 12, 1913	Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France	Won inaugural IBU light-heavyweight title
75	Win	59–10–5 (1)	Marcel Moreau	TKO	8 (20)	Jan 8, 1913	Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France
74	Loss	58–10–5 (1)	Billy Papke	TKO	18 (20)	Oct 23, 1912	Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France	For world middlweight title claim
73	Loss	58–9–5 (1)	Frank Klaus	DQ	19 (20)	Jun 24, 1912	Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France	Lost world middleweight title claim For world middleweight title
72	Win	58–8–5 (1)	Willie Lewis	PTS	20	May 22, 1912	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France	Retained IBU and world middleweight title claim
71	Win	57–8–5 (1)	Hubert Roc	KO	6 (?)	May 10, 1912	Apollo-Théâtre, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
70	Win	56–8–5 (1)	George Gunther	PTS	20	Apr 3, 1912	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France	Retained IBU and world middleweight title claim
69	Win	55–8–5 (1)	Jim Sullivan	KO	2 (20)	Feb 29, 1912	Stand de la Condamine, Monte Carlo, Monaco	Retained world middlweight title claim Won inaugural IBU middleweight title
68	Win	54–8–5 (1)	Charles Bradley	KO	2 (?)	Jan 27, 1912	Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France
67	Win	53–8–5 (1)	Battling Lacroix	TKO	6 (15)	Jan 17, 1912	Salle du Grand Skating-Rouennais, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France
66	Win	52–8–5 (1)	Battling Taylor	KO	4 (?)	Jan 13, 1912	Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France
65	Win	51–8–5 (1)	Harry Lewis	PTS	20	Dec 13, 1911	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
64	Win	50–8–5 (1)	Battling Lacroix	KO	9 (15)	Nov 25, 1911	Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France
63	Win	49–8–5 (1)	Theo Gray	KO	9 (?)	Nov 17, 1911	Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, France
62	Win	48–8–5 (1)	Young Joseph	RTD	10 (20)	Oct 23, 1911	Empress Rink, Earl's Court, London, England	Won inaugural IBU welterweight title
61	Win	47–8–5 (1)	Sid Burns	PTS	15	Oct 2, 1911	Empress Rink, Earl's Court, London, England
60	Loss	46–8–5 (1)	Dixie Kid	TKO	5 (15)	Aug 19, 1911	Trouville, Calvados, France
59	Win	46–7–5 (1)	Arthur Evernden	PTS	15	Aug 14, 1911	Cabourg, Calvados, France
58	Win	45–7–5 (1)	Jack Goldswain	KO	4 (15)	Jun 23, 1911	Skating de la Rue Edinbourg, Paris, France
57	Win	44–7–5 (1)	Robert Eustache	TKO	16 (20)	Jun 10, 1911	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France	Won vacant France welterweight title
56	Win	43–7–5 (1)	Frank Loughrey	PTS	15	May 20, 1911	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
55	Win	42–7–5 (1)	Henri Marchand	KO	6 (15)	Apr 23, 1911	Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France
54	Win	41–7–5 (1)	George Colbourne	PTS	10	Apr 8, 1911	Palais Baudouin, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
53	Win	40–7–5 (1)	Sid Stagg	PTS	10	Apr 1, 1911	Franco-American Skating Rink, Roubaix, Nord, France
52	Win	39–7–5 (1)	Jack Meekins	PTS	10	Mar 25, 1911	Wonderland, Paris, France
51	Win	38–7–5 (1)	Henri Marchand	KO	6 (?)	Mar 15, 1911	Liege, Belgium
50	Win	37–7–5 (1)	Harry Staessens	KO	1 (10)	Mar 12, 1911	Théâtre des Associations, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
49	Win	36–7–5 (1)	Young Nipper	PTS	8	Mar 1, 1911	Hippodrome, Paris, Paris, France
48	Loss	35–7–5 (1)	Henri Piet	PTS	10	Jan 27, 1911	Cirque de Paris, Paris, France
47	Win	35–6–5 (1)	George Randall	KO	5 (15)	Jan 14, 1911	Wonderland, Paris, France
46	Win	34–6–5 (1)	Edouard Brochet	KO	7 (15)	Jan 8, 1911	Théâtre des Associations, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
45	Win	33–6–5 (1)	Jack Daniels	PTS	10	Dec 17, 1910	Wonderland, Paris, France
44	Win	32–6–5 (1)	Henri Demlen	PTS	10	Dec 3, 1910	Theatre Lyrique, Schaerbeek, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
43	Win	31–6–5 (1)	George Randall	TKO	10 (10)	Nov 19, 1910	Wonderland, Paris, France
42	Win	30–6–5 (1)	Young Williams	KO	7 (?)	Nov 6, 1910	Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France
41	Win	29–6–5 (1)	Jim Campbell	KO	5 (10)	Oct 22, 1910	Wonderland, Paris, France
40	Win	28–6–5 (1)	Percy Wilson	PTS	10	Oct 15, 1910	Wonderland, Paris, France
39	Draw	27–6–5 (1)	Jean Audouy	PTS	10	Oct 8, 1910	Theatre Lyrique, Schaerbeek, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
38	Win	27–6–4 (1)	Fernand Cuny	TKO	8 (?)	Aug 13, 1910	Cabourg, Calvados, France
37	Win	26–6–4 (1)	Hubert Baelen	KO	2 (?)	Jul 17, 1910	Lille, Nord, France
36	Draw	25–6–4 (1)	Paul Til	PTS	15	Jul 8, 1910	Pepiniere, Paris, France
35	Win	25–6–3 (1)	Louis Achille	KO	6 (10)	Jun 11, 1910	Salon de l'Alcazar, Lievin, Pas-de-Calais, France
34	Loss	24–6–3 (1)	Fernand Cuny	TKO	13 (?)	Apr 16, 1910	Bordeaux, Gironde, France
33	Loss	24–5–3 (1)	Ted Broadribb	TKO	4 (?)	Apr 9, 1910	Wonderland, Paris, France
32	Win	24–4–3 (1)	Georges Gloria	KO	8 (?)	Apr 3, 1910	Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
31	Win	23–4–3 (1)	Fernand Cuny	PTS	10	Mar 26, 1910	Nouvel-Alcazar, Lyon, Rhône, France
30	Win	22–4–3 (1)	Louis Achille	KO	5 (10)	Mar 20, 1910	Hippodrome Municipal, Douai, Nord, France
29	Loss	21–4–3 (1)	Buck Shine	PTS	10	Mar 12, 1910	Palais Baudouin, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
28	Win	21–3–3 (1)	Wally Pickard	KO	8 (10)	Feb 5, 1910	Palais Baudouin, Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium
27	NC	20–3–3 (1)	Paul Til	NC	8 (15)	Jan 14, 1910	Élysée Montmartre, Paris, France	No decision was given after an accidental clash of heads left Til unable to continue
26	Win	20–3–3	Georges Gaillard	PTS	10	Jan 8, 1910	Théâtre des Associations, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
25	Win	19–3–3	Young Warner	DQ	7 (10)	Jan 5, 1910	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
24	Win	18–3–3	Paul Til	PTS	10	Dec 22, 1909	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
23	Win	17–3–3	Georges Gaillard	PTS	6	Dec 8, 1909	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
22	Loss	16–3–3	Paul Til	TKO	8 (20)	Nov 27, 1909	Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France	For vacant France bantamweight title
21	Win	16–2–3	Charles Ledoux	PTS	15	Nov 24, 1909	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
20	Win	15–2–3	Joseph Lampin	KO	7 (?)	Nov 8, 1909	Henin-Beaumont, Pas-de-Calais, France
19	Win	14–2–3	Lucien Dorgueille	PTS	10	Oct 23, 1909	Wonderland, Paris, France
18	Draw	13–2–3	Paul Til	PTS	10	Oct 16, 1909	Hippodrome Lillois, Lille, Nord, France	For vacant France bantamweight title
17	Win	13–2–2	Omer Hellebout	TKO	5 (10)	Oct 11, 1909	Salle Desruelles, Roubaix, Nord, France
16	Win	12–2–2	Joseph Lampin	KO	5 (10)	Aug 28, 1909	Théâtre du Café Dubois, Denain, Nord, France
15	Win	11–2–2	Lucien Dorgueille	KO	11 (15)	Aug 21, 1909	Salle Beudaert, Lille, Nord, France
14	Win	10–2–2	Emile Wetinck	KO	1 (?)	Jun 26, 1909	Lille, Nord, France
13	Win	9–2–2	Joseph Lampin	KO	10 (10)	May 20, 1909	Valenciennes, Nord, France
12	Win	8–2–2	Auguste Relinger	PTS	6	May 17, 1909	Hippodrome-Théâtre, Roubaix, Nord, France
11	Win	7–2–2	F Cheveau	PTS	6	Apr 25, 1909	Vélodrome Roubaisien, Roubaix, Nord, France
10	Win	6–2–2	Achalme	PTS	10	Mar 18, 1909	Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
9	Draw	5–2–2	Charles Legrand	PTS	20	Feb 28, 1909	Théâtre des Associations, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
8	Win	5–2–1	Gaston Simon	PTS	10	Feb 25, 1909	Paris, France
7	Loss	4–2–1	Georges Gloria	KO	6 (?)	Feb 19, 1909	Paris, France
6	Win	4–1–1	Charles Legrand	PTS	15	Jan 10, 1909	Théâtre des Associations, Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France
5	Draw	3–1–1	Charles Legrand	PTS	6	Dec 5, 1908	Bethune, Pas-de-Calais, France
4	Win	3–1	Gaston Simon	PTS	6	Dec 3, 1908	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
3	Win	2–1	Louis Lépine	PTS	6	Dec 3, 1908	Tivoli Boxing-Hall, Paris, France
2	Loss	1–1	Ed Salmon	TKO	18 (20)	Nov 30, 1908	Cafe de Paris, Maisons-Lafitte, Val-de-Marne, France
1	Win	1–0	Ed Salmon	DQ	13 (20)	Nov 1, 1908	Cafe de Paris, Maisons-Lafitte, Val-de-Marne, France

See also[]

• List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References[]

External links[]

• Boxing record for Georges Carpentier from BoxRec
• Carpentier vs Gene Tunney - Fight by Rounds - July 25, 1924
• Carpentier vs Gene Tunney - July 25, 1924
• Georges Carpentier at IMDb
• Georges Carpentier at Virtual History
• [1] www.georgescarpentier.org (biographical website devoted to Carpentier, including extensive text, images, some video) [2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georges Carpentier.