Boxing and Roland Garros, the story goes on

IN IMAGES. With boxing making its big return to Roland-Garros on Friday, we look back at the seven previous fights the venue has staged.
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10 SEPTEMBER 2021
7 juillet 1946 - Cerdan vs Williams boxe à Roland-Garros© Getty

Round 4: Cerdan vs Holman, 7 July 1946

One year later, Cerdan was in the ring himself, to face the USA’s Holman Williams, with a host of GIs cheering the American on as the sun beat down mercilessly.

Stalking each other in a ring decked out in red and white, the two fighters battled it out for ten rounds. Nicknamed “The Man with Clay Hands”, Cerdan made light of a damaged right fist to win the fight, book a ticket to the States, and claim the heart of the singer Edith Piaf.

A legend was born.

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