HE was a legendary fighter, born in Senegal and prepared to brawl anyplace on the earth. A world champion who competed with the likes of Mike McTigue and legendary Frenchman Georges Carpentier. But his title stays a thriller to many exterior of essentially the most devoted boxing circles.
A documentary on the person referred to as Battling Siki, Africa’s first-ever boxing world champion, will probably be screened on the West Norwood Picturehouse on Friday, Might 24, as a part of the London Pan African Movie Pageant.
Return to Your Nook tells the story of a person born in St Louis, Senegal, who headed to France, the place he defeated one of the best in Europe. In 1922, he received the world light-heavyweight title, defeating Georges Carpentier to turn into the primary African World Champion, though historical past reveals him as a French Champion.
Racism would observe Siki wherever he went. He was requested to throw fights however refused. A call that led to a grotesque finish aged simply 28. In 1993, the WBC returned his stays to Senegal. The champion lastly went residence.
Archived movie footage nonetheless exists of Siki’s struggle with Carpentier, displaying how the game of boxing has modified and advanced over time. Few know his title even in Africa as a result of Battling Siki was a world champion through the colonial period. Due to this fact, his world title is recorded as belonging to his colonial ruler.
Standing as much as racism at a time when few would dare, Siki turned it round and used it to advertise himself and his fights.
The documentary on Siki premiered in New York on February 15, 2023, on the New York Athletic Membership, hosted by the World Boxing Council (WBC). Former world champions Michael Spinks, Iran Barkley, Vinny Paz, and present fighter Franchon Cruz-Dezurn attended.
A number of political figures, together with the Consul Basic for Senegal in New York, El Hadji Amadou Ndao, attended the occasion. Following this, the Consul Basic and the WBC began trying into future Senegal screening. The New York Training Division has been seeking to have the movie screened in each college in Black Historical past Month.
