Pierre Charles

Pierre Charles (20 March 1903 – 8 August 1966) was a Belgian boxer who was the heavyweight champion of Belgium and Europe. He held the Belgian title between 1926 and 1927, and again between 1935 and 1936, and the International Boxing Union (IBU) European title for three periods, from 1929 to 1931, 1932 to 1933, and 1935 to 1936. Career Charles made his professional debut in April 1922, as a light heavyweight, losing on points over four rounds to Maurice Hennaut. Up to the end of 1925, he had a mixed record, including a run of five straight losses, but from November that year, through to October 1926, he was beaten only once (by Hans Breitenstraeter), including a draw with Ludwig Haymann. In November 1926 he beat Jack Humbeeck on points to become Belgian heavyweight champion. Over the next six months he had seven fights, including two draws with Gipsy Daniels. He made a successful defence of his Belgian title against Humbeeck in May 1927, but the following month suffered his first loss in almost a year when he was beaten on points by Phil Scott at the Royal Albert Hall. In September that year, he again defended his Belgian title against Humbeeck, this time losing on points. In early 1928 he travelled to the United States for a series of fights. After fighting a draw against Jack DeMave in January, he stopped Jack McCann in the first round in March, but was again beaten by Scott later that month. He beat Bud Gorman in June, but suffered the second defeat of his spell in the US in August to Otto von Porat, also losing his last fight in America, George Godfrey knocking him out in the second round at the end of the month. He had been set to fight Jack Sharkey, but the fight was cancelled when Sharkey injured his knee.