Marcel Cerdan, French boxer (died 1949)

Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan was a French professional boxer and world middleweight champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa. Nicknamed "the Moroccan bomber" or "the man with hands of clay", his talent led him to France in 1938 where he became French champion three times and then European champion in the welterweight category. His life was marked by his sporting achievements, social lifestyle and, ultimately, tragedy, being killed in an airplane crash.