FORMER boxing world champion Johnny Famechon has died at the age of 77.
The ex-featherweight king, who finished his 20-year professional career in 1970, passed away in Melbourne.
He boasted a professional record of 56 wins, six draws and five losses.
Famechon’s most famous victory came in 1969 when he beat Cuban Jose Legra at the Albert Hall in London to claim the featherweight world title.
His passing comes just months after he was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, becoming a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to boxing at the elite level.
Reacting on social media, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said: “I am so sorry to learn of the passing away of Australian boxing icon Johnny Famechon. May he rest in eternal peace.”
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While others also reacted, with one person saying: “Australia has lost a sporting icon. May the legendary Johnny Famechon rest in peace.
“The former world champion has passed away at 77.”
And another added: “So sorry to hear about the passing of legendary Aussie boxer Johnny Famechon world featherweight champion. May he RIP 🙏.”
Famechon was born Jean-Pierre Famechon in Paris in 1945 but moved to Australia at the age of five.
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He is widely regarded as a legend of Australian boxing and was handed Keys To The City of Melbourne after his 1969 triumph.
He defended his WBC world title on two occasions against Fighting Harada of Japan.
But after losing his title to Mexican Vicente Saldivar in 1970, he decided to retire at just 24 years of age.
More than two decades after hanging up his gloves in 1991, Famechon was hit by a car in Sydney.
The collision caused a stroke which subsequently caused an acquired brain injury.
In 2003, he was named as the Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame’s modern category.
Nine years later, Famechon became the third boxer to be elevated to legend status – showing he remains one of Australia’s greatest ever fighters.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
