Walid Smichet (Tempete de Sable) boxer

Walid Smichet (born 17 August 1979 in Tunisia) is a professional boxer based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who is known as "Tempete de Sable" ("The Sand Storm") who fights in the middleweight division. Walid is renowned as a devastating puncher with both hands.Smichet is the former Canadian middleweight title holder and IBF International middleweight title contender.Smichet was born in Tunisia although he has had all of his professional fights in Canada.Walid Smichet boxed as an amateur from the age of nine. He was Tunisian national champion for five years from 1994 to 1999 and represented Tunisia at the 2001 Francophone Games.Smichet remained in Canada after the Francophone Games and turned professional in July 2002, winning his first fight on points against Martin Desjardins at the Pierre-Charbonneau Centre, Montreal. Smichet lost and drew his next two fights both on points decisions but then won 13 of his subsequent 14 fights with the other fight being a draw. In that run of fights Smichet knocked out 10 of his 14 opponents including a KO victory over Ferenc Lankonde whom he had previously drawn with in his third pro fight.Following this four year unbeaten stretch Walid Smichet then faced Donny McCrary, star of the reality TV boxing show The Contender, at the Montreal Casino, in February 2006.