Up there, the wink must have made him laugh. On the day of his burial, two of his greatest passions came together: boxing and Roland-Garros. He who has dedicated an eternal love to the noble art since his adolescence has also rarely missed an edition of the French Open on the center court. He had his appointed chair along the service line. Yes, Jean-Paul Belmondo must have appreciated, he who rarely missed a Tony Yoka fight. The last time we saw him at the edge of a ring was on July 13, 2019 in Antibes for the Olympic champion’s comeback fight after his year of suspension. He was accompanied by his accomplice, Charles Gérard.
So obviously, the worlds of boxing and tennis, gathered this Friday evening in the temple of tennis that he loved so much, could not fail to pay a vibrant tribute to the most worthy and magnificent ambassador of boxing.
In the presence of several personalities – Yannick Noah, who knows the place so well, MMA fighter Ciryl Gane, actor Thierry Godard, host Cyril Hanouna, Wilfrid Mbappé (Kylian’s father), Brahim Asloum, Jean-Marc Mormeck, two boxers whom he supported throughout their careers, chef Thierry Marx or even Valérie Pécresse, president of the Ile-de-France regional council – the 8,500 spectators from the central stood up and had a long applauded the former boxer that was Jean-Paul Belmondo.
“He is a great boxing figure, he did a lot for boxing in France, few people know that. And in particular for me, from my professional beginnings, it came to practically all my fights, had confided to us Tony Yoka, a few minutes after the announcement of the disappearance of the “Ace of aces”. Boxing had not put a ring on the central Porte d’Auteuil since 1973 and a last fight by Jean-Claude Bouttier. The Frenchman had already put on the gloves here in 1971 and 1973. And each time, Jean-Paul Belmondo was there, with Jean Gabin and Alain Delon. This Friday, his chair remained empty. However, since this Friday, a lodge at the edge of the field, the one he occupied, now bears his name, and for eternity. This is the first time that a non-tennis player has had this honor at Roland Garros.
