Photos credit: Isseu Diouf Campbell
Mayor Eric Adams presented a proclamation to the World Boxing Council in honor of Louis ‘Battling Siki’ Fall during a ceremony held at City Hall on October 4, 2022.
Battling Siki, the first athlete born in Africa to win the world championship in any sport, defeated Georges Carpentier in France on September 24, 1922.
Battling Siki was murdered in New York City on December 15, 1925, at 28. His body was repatriated to Senegal in 1993 with the help of Senegalese journalist Mamadou Niang.
The Consul General of Senegal, Elhadji Amadou Ndao, attended the ceremony celebrating the 100th anniversary of Battling Siki’s world championship victory.
