Born in Saint-Dizier, Haute-Marne in the Champagne-Ardenne Region of France, Thil started boxing at a very young age and turned professional at the age of 16.
•
He became a major celebrity and as a good friend of celebrated actor Jean Gabin, he was the toast of Paris during the next four and a half years when he successfully defended his middleweight title 11 times.
•
He made a living with a company in Reims until eventually retiring to a home in Cannes on the French Riviera where in on August 14, 1968 he died after being seriously injured in an automobile accident at age 64.
•
In France, a street was named in his honor in his birthplace of Saint-Dizier and in the city of Reims, both a street and a sports stadium carry his name.
•
Thil remained active in boxing circles as an advisor and cornerman and was named honorary president of the Dieppe Boxing Club.
Marcel Duchamp | Marcel Proust | Marcel Marceau | Marcel Breuer | Marcel Pagnol | Marcel Lefebvre | Marcel Dzama | Marcel Griaule | Marcel Carné | Marcel Mauss | Marcel Mule | Marcel Journet | Marcel Janco | Marcel Gauchet | Marcel Dassault | Marcel Bozzuffi | Cedrik-Marcel Stebe | Thil | Saint-Marcel | Marcel Vanthilt | Marcel Reif | Marcel Labey | Marcel Granet | Marcel Cerdan | Marcel Bigeard | Marcel Bellefeuille | Gabriel Marcel | Thil, Haute-Garonne | Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence | Rosie Marcel |
Fred Apostoli, "The Boxing Bell Hop" (February 2, 1913 - November 29, 1973 in San Francisco) was a rugged, accomplished body punching middleweight, who was recognized as the world champion when he defeated Marcel Thil on September 23, 1937.