Hocine Khalfi
Encyclopedia
Hocine Khalfi was an Algerian-American boxer from Oran
, Algeria
. He was orphaned at the age of seven and raised by his aunt. Khalfi, who started boxing at the age of 17, quickly rose through the ranks. He was the Featherweight
champion of Algeria in 1945. Named "Golden Glove," Hocine found himself in Paris where he began to deliver his first Pro battles;
He was only 18 years old. Over his 9 year career (1948–1957), Khalfi scored 16 knockouts. His final record was 47-22-7.
in major upset bout. During his career he fought notible fighters such as Cisco Andrade, Ralph Dupas
, and Fernando Silva. On March 9, 1956 he was the Main event at Madison Square Garden
against Ludwig Lightburn. Preocupied by the birth of his twin daughters, Lallia and Myriam, Khalfi lost the bout.
The following day, the New York Journal said that it was the first time in boxing history that a main event was lost due to the birth of twins; The title of the article read: "Khalfi's Pilot Has Twin Alibi".
, who was a big boxing fan.
The 1954 cover of Boxing and Wrestling Magazine, of which Khalfi graced the cover, was featured in the movie Shutter Island
, starring Leonardo DiCaprio
.
, Beverly Hills Hotel
, and Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles). He lived in Los Angeles, California before moving to France in 2006; and later moving back to Algeria.
Khalfi died on August 27, 2011 from Pancreatic cancer
, aged 83, in his hometown of Oran
, Algeria
. He leaves behind a wife, 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. He was orphaned at the age of seven and raised by his aunt. Khalfi, who started boxing at the age of 17, quickly rose through the ranks. He was the Featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion of Algeria in 1945. Named "Golden Glove," Hocine found himself in Paris where he began to deliver his first Pro battles;
He was only 18 years old. Over his 9 year career (1948–1957), Khalfi scored 16 knockouts. His final record was 47-22-7.
Professional career
Khalfi is best known for his May, 1954 defeat of Sandy SaddlerSandy Saddler
Joseph "Sandy" Saddler was an American boxer born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a two-time featherweight world champion, and also held the junior lightweight crown. Over his twelve-year career , Saddler scored 103 knockouts. He was stopped only once, in his second pro fight, by Jock Leslie. ...
in major upset bout. During his career he fought notible fighters such as Cisco Andrade, Ralph Dupas
Ralph Dupas
Ralph Dupas was a boxer from New Orleans who won the world light middleweight championship.-Early boxing career:...
, and Fernando Silva. On March 9, 1956 he was the Main event at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
against Ludwig Lightburn. Preocupied by the birth of his twin daughters, Lallia and Myriam, Khalfi lost the bout.
The following day, the New York Journal said that it was the first time in boxing history that a main event was lost due to the birth of twins; The title of the article read: "Khalfi's Pilot Has Twin Alibi".
T.V/Film appearances
During his attendance of a taping of The Ed Sullivan Show, he was pulled on stage by Ed SullivanEd Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
, who was a big boxing fan.
The 1954 cover of Boxing and Wrestling Magazine, of which Khalfi graced the cover, was featured in the movie Shutter Island
Shutter Island
Shutter Island is a best-selling novel by Dennis Lehane, published by Harper Collins in April 2003. A film adaptation was released in February 2010. Lehane has said he sought to write a novel that would be an homage to Gothic settings, B movies, and pulp. He described the novel as a hybrid of the...
, starring Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...
.
After boxing
Khalfi retired from boxing in 1957, aged 29, due to a recurrent eye ulcer that he sustained in one of his fights. He later became a chef working at such notible places as the Waldorf-Astoria HotelWaldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
, Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena...
, and Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles). He lived in Los Angeles, California before moving to France in 2006; and later moving back to Algeria.
Khalfi died on August 27, 2011 from Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
, aged 83, in his hometown of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. He leaves behind a wife, 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
External links
- http://news80.com/en/2011/09/06/hocine-khalfi-un-grand-boxeur-parti-en-silence/