Victor Perez
Encyclopedia
Victor "Young" Perez was a Sephardic Jew born in French Tunisia, who became the World Flyweight
Champion in 1931 and 1932. He was born to Khmaïssa Perez a household goods salesman and Khaïlou René Perez. He was raised along with his four siblings in Dar-El Berdgana, the Jewish quarter of Tunis
. He started training as a boxer at age 14 along with his older brother Benjamin “Kid” Perez to emulate his idol Louis Phal, “Battling Siki,” a boxing champion from Senegal
. Perez had a brief relationship with French-Italian actress Mireille Balin of Monaco
.
Perez was denounced to the Occupation authorities and arrested in Paris
on Septemner 21, 1943 and detained in the Drancy
internment camp before being transported to Auschwitz where he was assigned to the Monowitz subcamp to serve as a slave laborer for I.G. Farben at the Buna-Werke. He was killed on January 22, 1945 on the death march from Monowitz to Gleiwitz.
in 1930, defeating Kid Oliva from Marseille
On October 24, 1931, he won the International Boxing Union
’s version of the World Flyweight crown with a 2nd-round knockout of American champion Frankie Genaro
becoming the youngest world champion in boxing history
After losing his title one year later to England’s Jackie Brown
, Perez moved up to the bantamweight
class, but lost a championship bout decision to "Panama" Al Brown
in February 1934. He continued to box until December 1938.
His professional record: 133 bouts—W: 92 (28 KOs), L: 26, Draw: 15.
, France
. While at Auschwitz, Perez was forced to participate in boxing matches for the amusement of the Nazis. By 1945, Perez was one of just 31 survivors of the original 1,000.
Perez was one of the prisoners on the "Death March
that left the camp on January 18, 1945. He was reported as being killed on January 22, 1945.
Perez was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 1986.
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
Champion in 1931 and 1932. He was born to Khmaïssa Perez a household goods salesman and Khaïlou René Perez. He was raised along with his four siblings in Dar-El Berdgana, the Jewish quarter of Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. He started training as a boxer at age 14 along with his older brother Benjamin “Kid” Perez to emulate his idol Louis Phal, “Battling Siki,” a boxing champion from Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Perez had a brief relationship with French-Italian actress Mireille Balin of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
Perez was denounced to the Occupation authorities and arrested in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on Septemner 21, 1943 and detained in the Drancy
Drancy
Drancy is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 10.8 km from the center of Paris.- Toponomy :...
internment camp before being transported to Auschwitz where he was assigned to the Monowitz subcamp to serve as a slave laborer for I.G. Farben at the Buna-Werke. He was killed on January 22, 1945 on the death march from Monowitz to Gleiwitz.
Boxing career
The 5'1", 110-pound Perez captured the French Flyweight title in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1930, defeating Kid Oliva from Marseille
On October 24, 1931, he won the International Boxing Union
International Boxing Union
The International Boxing Union was created June 1911 in Paris, France. It was an attempt to create a unified international governing body for professional boxing...
’s version of the World Flyweight crown with a 2nd-round knockout of American champion Frankie Genaro
Frankie Genaro
Frank "Frankie" Genaro was a former Olympic gold medalist and boxing world flyweight champion...
becoming the youngest world champion in boxing history
After losing his title one year later to England’s Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown (boxer)
For the Scottish flyweight boxer called Jackie Brown, see Jackie Brown .Jackie Brown was a flyweight boxer, who was British and European flyweight champion, and was also recognised by the National Boxing Association as the World flyweight champion.-Professional career:He had his first professional...
, Perez moved up to the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
class, but lost a championship bout decision to "Panama" Al Brown
Panama Al Brown
Alfonso Teofilo Brown , better known as Panama Al Brown, was a bantamweight boxer from Panama who made history by becoming boxing's first Hispanic world champion. Brown was a native of the city of Colón....
in February 1934. He continued to box until December 1938.
His professional record: 133 bouts—W: 92 (28 KOs), L: 26, Draw: 15.
Auschwitz
Perez arrived at Auschwitz on October 10, 1943, as part of "Transport 60" a group of 1,000 prisoners shipped from Drancy internment campDrancy internment camp
The Drancy internment camp of Paris, France, was used to hold Jews who were later deported to the extermination camps. 65,000 Jews were deported from Drancy, of whom 63,000 were murdered including 6,000 children...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. While at Auschwitz, Perez was forced to participate in boxing matches for the amusement of the Nazis. By 1945, Perez was one of just 31 survivors of the original 1,000.
Perez was one of the prisoners on the "Death March
Death marches (Holocaust)
The death marches refer to the forcible movement between Autumn 1944 and late April 1945 by Nazi Germany of thousands of prisoners from German concentration camps near the war front to camps inside Germany.-General:...
that left the camp on January 18, 1945. He was reported as being killed on January 22, 1945.
Perez was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1986.