How old was Johnny Famechon?
Johnny Famechon was born in Paris. When he was five years old, his family relocated from Paris to Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, a suburb of Melbourne. They were joined by his mother, father, and younger brother. After that, the family relocated to Middle Park, another Melbourne suburb. A few years later, his mother Antoinette and…
Johnny Famechon was born in Paris. When he was five years old, his family relocated from Paris to Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, a suburb of Melbourne. They were joined by his mother, father, and younger brother. After that, the family relocated to Middle Park, another Melbourne suburb. A few years later, his mother Antoinette and younger brother Christian relocated to Paris; John and his father Andre then made their way to Richmond.
Famechon attended the technical school in Essendon. In 1970, he wed Elise (née Alves) at St. Brigid’s Church in Mordialloc, where they had first met. Paul, their first child, was born in 1972 when they relocated to Frankston, and Danielle, their daughter, was born in 1974.
Famechon gained a reputation as a talented boxer whose strength was his defense over the course of his twenty-year career. His overall record included 56 victories (20 by KO), 6 ties, and 5 defeats. In 1964, he defeated Les Dunn to win the Victorian featherweight championship, and in 1967, after defeating the Scot John O’Brien, he became the Commonwealth featherweight champion. On January 21, 1969, at London’s Albert Hall, he fought Cuban José Legrá on points to win the Lineal and WBC featherweight titles.
In a contentious points decision, Famechon defeated Fighting Harada of Japan to retain his WBC featherweight belt. Six months later, Famechon and Harada fought again for the world championship, with Famechon coming out on top by stopping Harada in the fifteenth round.
On May 9, 1970, in Rome, he faced Mexican Vicente Saldivar to defend his WBC title; following a close points decision loss, he shortly announced his retirement.
He never engaged in amateur combat and received Ambrose Palmer’s training throughout his whole professional career.
Age at the time of his Death
He was 77 years old when he left the land of the living.
