Former world featherweight champion Johnny Famechon dies aged 77
- Seb Sternik
- 4 August 2022
Ex-featherweight WBC world champion and one of Australia's greatest ever boxers Johnny Famechon has passed away at the age of 77 in Melbourne.
The Australian's most memorable win was his world title triumph against Cuban rival Jose Legra in a fight which took place at London's Albert Hall in 1969.
Famechon was the 2003 inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame's modern category, and became just the third to be elevated to legend status back in 2012.
The world-class featherweight was born in France in 1945 with the name Jean-Pierre Famechon. However, the boxer moved to Australia with his family at the age of five.
After a professional career which spanned for 20 years, the Aussie boasted a record of 56 wins, six draws and five defeats.
Following his world title triumph in 1969, Famechon received the Keys To The City of Melbourne upon his return to the country.
The boxer defended his WBC crown against Japan's Fighting Harada with a controversial points decision.
Then, in a rematch with Harada away in Japan six months later, Famechon sent him to the canvas in the fourteenth round to win the bout by knockout.
He defended his WBC title in May 1970 in Rome to Mexican Vicente Saldivar and retired at the age of 24 soon after losing the fight in a close points decision.
RIP Johnny Famechon, 77.
— Rhett Bartlett (@rhettrospective) August 4, 2022
Entered immortality on January 21, 1969 by defeating Jose Legra at the Albert Hall for the featherweight title.
However his greatest fight - and victory - was overcoming the brain injury and stroke he suffered in 1991. pic.twitter.com/h619mTwnOE
Famechon, who never fought as an amateur, was trained by professional prize fighter and leading Australian rules footballer Ambrose Palmer.
In 1991 Famechon was hit by a car in Sydney, which caused a stroke and resulted in an acquired brain injury.
Earlier in 2022 he became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for significant service to boxing at the elite level.
