Featherweight champion with a ‘Steel’ Jaw

Unknown photographer

Eugene Criqui [ French Featherweight]

Australia,

1st quarter of 20th Century

Original vintage silver print photograph, inscribed ‘Eugene Criqui’ in pencil on reverse

210 by 148mm (8¼ by 5¾ inches).

In 1914 Eugene joined the French army and fought in WW I. While serving guard duty during the Battle of Verdun, he was shot by a German sniper. The bullet struck him in the face shattering his jaw. Criqui would spend two years in the hospital recovering from his wounds. During that time surgeons rebuilt his face using wires, plastic, and pieces of sheep’s bone to repair the damage. Though it would seem from most accounts of the reconstructive surgery that the jaw was made from animal bone, and grafted skin a myth persisted that it was made from steel. Maybe to intimidate his opponents.

Criqui was one of the finest featherweight world champions. His career spanned 18 years from 1910-1928, where he won 99 fights, losing only 17. In 1920-21 he fought several times at ‘The Old Tin Shed’,which was later the site for the Sydney Stadium. He beat talented boxers such as Vince Blackburn, Jackie Green, Bert Spargo, Sid Godfrey, and fought an epic contest against Cabanello Dencio.

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