Johnny Famechon

Johnny Famechon has been honoured for one of the finest careers in Australian boxing.

Called Jean-Pierre Famechon, he was the son of a European boxing champion and a nephew of three French national champions, and he was born in Paris during the final weeks of World War II, and arrived in Melbourne as a five-year-old. “He just loved boxing and got on with the job, it was the same in life,” she said. “His ambition was to walk me down the aisle when we got married in 1997 and he did it,” Glenys Famechon said. “What a great privilege to be his son,” he said. Glenys Famechon told of “living a dream” with her husband and of joining him in his recovery. But rarely in his life as a sporting icon did the former world champion, who died in August, receive the depth of love and respect as at Tuesday’s State Memorial Service at Melbourne’s Festival Hall.