Battling Siki

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Battling Siki (September 16, 1897 – December 15, 1925), aka Louis Mbarick Fall, was a Senegalese light heavyweight boxer who fought from 1912-1925. Siki was one of the more colorful figures in boxing history.

He was born Baye Phal in the port city of Saint-Louis, Senegal. While still a teenager, Siki changed his name, and moved to France, where, by the age of 15, he began his professional boxing career. Siki's early years were inauspicious. From 1912 to 1914 he compliled a record of just 8 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws.

When World War I erupted, Siki joined the French army. During the war he was decorated for bravery in battle, and honorably discharged.

After his discharge from the military, Siki resumed his boxing career. From November 1, 1919, until he faced Georges Carpentier for the world's light heavyweight championship in 1922, Siki compiled the impressive record of 43 wins in 46 bouts (21 KOS), suffering just 1 loss (on a decision) and 2 draws. Carpentier, the reigning World and European champion, agreed to fight Siki for the title, and they met in Paris, France on September 24, 1922.

Siki claimed that he had agreed to take a dive, but when he saw and heard the 50,000 cheering spectators suffered a change of heart and fought all out to win. Carpentier, who was also a World War I hero, dropped Siki twice during the first 3 rounds of the fight. In the third round, Siki took control of the fight when he caught Carpentier with hard punches and knocked him down.

In the sixth round Siki hit Carpentier with a powerful right uppercut that appeared to put Carpentier down and out for the count. The referee, however, claimed Siki had tripped Carpentier, and awarded the bout to the unconscious champion on a foul. Fearing a riot from the aroused crowd, the three ringside judges overruled the referee, and Siki was eventually declared the champion.

Siki then embarked on a well publicized rampage of partying and carousing. He would walk his pet lion down the Champs-Élysées while wearing his top hat and tuxedo. Siki was known to fire his revolvers in the air in public as a means of prompting his two great danes to do tricks. He was constantly reported drinking champagne in night clubs, and spent freely on flashy clothes and partying. He was fond of white women, and both his wives were white.

During this time offers poured in from the United States for the colorful Siki to meet the leading heavyweight contender Harry Wills, middleweight champion Johnny Wilson, and the legendary Harry Greb. Attempts were even made to match Siki with the then reigning heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

Instead, Siki signed to defend his title against Irish light heavyweight Mike McTigue on Saint Patrick's Day in Dublin. Predictably, Siki was outpointed and lost the title. This defeat was the first loss in a downward skein of dissapation and poor ring performances suffered by Siki, which culminated in his death a little over a month after his last fight.

After losing his European title, on a foul, Siki moved to the United States. His record in the States was poor and he failed to defeat any top notch fighters. His failure to train properly was evident, his record after winning the title was a dismal 11 wins (7 KOS), 17 losses, 1 draw and 2 No Contests. It was during this time period that he suffered the only two knockout defeats of his career.

Even in the States Siki continued to carouse and train on booze and street brawls. Often, he would get drunk in speak easies, refuse to pay the tab, and fight his way out. On December 15, 1925, his reckless lifestyle caught up with him. He was stopped by a policeman who saw him staggering drunk on 42nd Street, not far from his apartment in New York City. Siki stated that he was on his way home, and walked off. Later he was found laying face down, shot twice in the back at close range, dead at the age of 28. The killer was never found.

The Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, the father of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., presided over his funeral, which was held in Harlem New York.

In 1993, his remains were repatriated to his home city of Saint-Louis, Senegal.