French WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Thierry Jacob Dies at 59

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

Paris, France (December 25th, 2024)–Former southpaw World Boxing Council World Super Bantamweight champion Thierry Jacob has died of lung cancer in his native Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France at age 59.

Between 1984 and 1994, Jacob compiled a professional record of 39 wins and six losses, with 20 knockouts. His first title attempts, against Fabrice Benichou for the European Bantamweight title, against Kelvin Seabrooks for the International Boxing Federation world Bantamweight title, and against Jose Sanabria for the International Boxing Federation World Super Bantamweight title, were unsuccessful.

Jacob finally won the European Bantamweight title in his second attempt, outpointing Duke McKenzie over 12 rounds in November 1990 in Calais, and defended it successfully in Calais against Vincenzo Belcastro and Antonio Picardi in 1991. In March 1992 in Calais, Jacob won the World Boxing Council World Super Bantamweight title by decision over Daniel Zaragoza. Three months later, Jacob lost his WBC world title by second round stoppage in Albany, New York to Tracy Harris Patterson, the son of the late former World Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. After losing twice to former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jacob ended his career by winning an eight round decision over Edgar Orlando Ballen in May 1994.

Thierry Jacob had two brothers who were regional boxing champions, 24-2 French Featherweight champion Bruno Jacob and 36-4 European Featherweight champion Hervé Jacob. A fourth brother, Jacky Jacob, worked as a boxing trainer. Thierry Jacob trained his sons 24-1 former European Super Featherweight champion Romain Jacob and 21-1 French Super Welterweight champion Joffrey Jacob, in their professional boxing careers.

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].