Albert Belanger

Frenchy Belanger (December 4, 1906 – May 27, 1969) was a Canadian professional flyweight boxer who became NBA world flyweight champion and three-time national flyweight champion.

Early life Albert Belanger was born on December 4, 1906, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

His family had been blacksmiths along the Ontario bank of the Ottawa River for five generations. Frenchy's father, Adolphe Belanger, left the blacksmithing trade for tailoring in Toronto where his son was born.

His childhood idol was Jimmy Wilde, and at fifteen he was already talking about becoming a professional boxer to make money. After twelve rounds, the 21-year-old was awarded a unanimous decision win and claimed the vacant world flyweight championship title.

Losing the NBA world flyweight championship, February 1928 Belanger defended his world title for the first time on February 6, 1928, meeting Frankie Genaro in a rematch. He lost by unanimous decision, and Genaro became the new flyweight champion. Belanger's reign as flyweight champion of the world lasted only six weeks.

Winning the Canadian flyweight championship, April 1928 His manager Davey Garrity had him train with Jack Britton at a three-week camp in Miami Beach, Florida in preparation for his next fight. On April 27, 1928, Belanger met Montreal's Clovis Durand for the Canadian flyweight championship at Arena Gardens. He captured the national title with a points victory.

Losing the Canadian flyweight championship, June 1928 Following a win over Frisco Grande in May 1928, he was scheduled for his first defense of the Canadian title. After injuring his back against Rocco and contracting influenza, he broke training and requested two postponements before his next fight, relying on a custom back brace.

Belanger fought the reigning world flyweight champion, Izzy Schwartz, on February 8, 1929, dropping a points decision in a non-title bout. The following month, on March 12, 1929, he lost a rematch with Schwartz, with the NYSAC world flyweight title on the line.

Frenchy was soon scheduled to face France's Eugène Huat in an international flyweight bout. The Canadian flyweight champion suffered a knockout loss to Huat in October 1929. He was stopped in the sixth round of their ten-round battle at Arena Gardens.

Belanger pursued another title shot against Frankie Genaro for the NBA and IBU world flyweight crowns on June 10, 1930, following three consecutive victories. He lost the ten-round title fight by unanimous decision.

A fight between Belanger and Bobby Leitham was arranged for April 1931. By April 8, 1931, the Ontario Athletic Commission stripped him of his title for breach of contract and indefinitely suspended him. He was later one of six arrested after being at the scene of a roadhouse shooting near Port Credit, on April 19, 1931.

During the summer of 1931, he signed to fight in the United States, where he was outpointed by Billy Passamento at the Utica Stadium. Following six months of hard labor that included chopping wood and road construction, he began planning a comeback at bantamweight.

He returned from a year's layoff in May 1932 for three final bouts, posting a 2–1 record.

After accumulating 52 professional bouts, Belanger retired in 1932 with a record featuring 13 knockout wins, 24 decision victories, and 7 draws.

Professional boxing record

Death Albert Belanger died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 27, 1969.

Legacy He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1956.