Karel Sys pugile

Karel Sys (14 February 1914 – 19 June 1990) was a Belgian boxer who having started his professional career at welterweight went on to become heavyweight champion of Europe on two occasions, winning the title in both 1943 and 1952.Sys made his professional debut on 1 August 1932 with a points win over Emile Ballister. In January 1933 he beat Ward Meulebrouck to win the East & West Flanders welterweight title. In his first 32 fights he was beaten only twice, by Len Baetens in March 1933 and by Adrien Anneet in March 1935. In April 1935 he challenged Gustave Roth for the Belgian middleweight title, losing the fight on points. He moved up in weight again, and in February 1936 beat Jean Berlemont on a majority decision to become the Belgian light heavyweight champion. He successfully defended the title in May 1936 against Auguste Devos, and in May 1937 against Berlemont. Between the two defences he also recorded wins over Adolf Heuser, Adolf Witt, and Devos.In December 1937 he faced Roth in Brussels with the latter's IBU European and world light heavyweight titles at stake; The fight ended in a draw, with Roth retaining both titles.In his first fight of 1938, Sys was beaten by Heuser, but a run of six wins, during which he had moved up again in weight class, led to a challenge in January 1939 for Heinz Lazek's European heavyweight title; Lazek won the fight on points.