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Battling Siki (September 16, 1897 – December
15, 1925), aka Louis Mbarick Fall, was a
Senegalese light heavyweight boxer who fought from
1912-1925.  Siki was one of the more colorful
figures in boxing history.

He was born Baye Phal in the port city of
Saint-Louis, Senegal. While still a teenager, Siki
changed his name, and moved to France, where, by
the age of 15, he began his professional boxing
career.  Siki's early years were inauspicious. 
From 1912 to 1914 he compliled a record of just 8
wins, 6 losses and 2 draws.

When World War I erupted, Siki joined the French
army.  During the war he was decorated for bravery
in battle, and honorably discharged.

After his discharge from the military, Siki
resumed his boxing career.  From November 1, 1919,
until he faced Georges Carpentier for the world's
light heavyweight championship in 1922, Siki
compiled the impressive record of 43 wins in 46
bouts (21 KOS), suffering just 1 loss (on a
decision) and 2 draws.  Carpentier, the reigning
World and European champion, agreed to fight Siki
for the title, and they met in Paris, France on
September 24, 1922.  

Siki claimed that he had agreed to take a dive,
but when he saw and heard the 50,000 cheering
spectators suffered a change of heart and fought
all out to win.  Carpentier, who was also a World
War I hero, dropped Siki twice during the first 3
rounds of the fight.  In the third round, Siki
took control of the fight when he caught
Carpentier with hard punches and knocked him down.


In the sixth round Siki hit Carpentier with a
powerful right uppercut that appeared to put
Carpentier down and out for the count.  The
referee, however, claimed Siki had tripped
Carpentier, and awarded the bout to the
unconscious champion on a foul.  Fearing a riot
from the aroused crowd, the three ringside judges
overruled the referee, and Siki was eventually
declared the champion.

Siki then embarked on a well publicized rampage of
partying and carousing.  He would walk his pet
lion down the Champs-Élysées while wearing his
top hat and tuxedo.   Siki was known to fire his
revolvers in the air in public as a means of
prompting his two great danes to do tricks.  He
was constantly reported drinking champagne in
night clubs, and spent freely on flashy clothes
and partying.  He was fond of white women, and
both his wives were white.

During this time offers poured in from the United
States for the colorful Siki to meet the leading
heavyweight contender Harry Wills, middleweight
champion Johnny Wilson, and the legendary Harry
Greb.  Attempts were even made to match Siki with
the then reigning heavyweight champion Jack
Dempsey. 

Instead, Siki signed to defend his title against
Irish light heavyweight Mike McTigue on Saint
Patrick's Day in Dublin.  Predictably, Siki was
outpointed and lost the title.  This defeat was
the first loss in a downward skein of dissapation
and poor ring performances suffered by Siki, which
culminated in his death a little over a month
after his last fight.  

After losing his European title, on a foul, Siki
moved to the United States.  His record in the
States was poor and he failed to defeat any top
notch fighters.  His failure to train properly was
evident, his record after winning the title was a
dismal 11 wins (7 KOS), 17 losses, 1 draw and 2 No
Contests.  It was during this time period that he
suffered the only two knockout defeats of his
career.

Even in the States Siki continued to carouse and
train on booze and street brawls.  Often, he would
get drunk in speak easies, refuse to pay the tab,
and fight his way out.  On December 15, 1925, his
reckless lifestyle caught up with him.  He was
stopped by a policeman who saw him staggering
drunk on 42nd Street, not far from his apartment
in New York City.  Siki stated that he was on his
way home, and walked off.  Later he was found
laying face down, shot twice in the back at close
range, dead at the age of 28.  The killer was
never found.

The Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, the father of Adam
Clayton Powell, Jr., presided over his funeral,
which was held in Harlem New York.

In 1993, his remains were repatriated to his home
city of Saint-Louis, Senegal.