French boxer hailed as a hero after raining punches on riot police during violent Paris clashes
- Man identified in video as Christophe Dettinger, a former French light heavyweight champion
- Boxer faces jail time for punching policeman to the ground during anti-government demonstrations
A former French champion boxer has turned himself in to authorities after being caught on camera raining down punches on riot police who were clashing with yellow vest activists over the weekend in Paris.
Christophe Dettinger, a 37-year-old former French light heavyweight champion, can be seen on the video landing shots at shielded riot police in Paris during violent scenes in the demonstration.
Police tried to prevent yellow vest protesters from crossing the Leopold-Sedar-Senghor bridge and it is understood that Dettinger, who racked up an impressive 18-4-1, 7 KOs professional record, jumped in to protect a woman on the eighth weekend of violent anti-government demonstrations in the French capital. It is understood that he is now in police custody.
In the video, which has since gone viral, Dettinger, who is wearing a black hat, gloves and coat is throwing punches at riot police and can be heard telling police that they should be “ashamed” of themselves after the demonstration got out of hand.
In another video, Dettinger can be seen kicking a policeman on the ground. The French police union was dismayed by Dettinger’s action and tweeted: “Sir, you who punch a colleague on the ground, you have been identified. For a boxer, you do not respect a lot of rules. We will teach you those of the penal code.”
Dettinger, who became France’s light heavyweight champion in October 2007, has been identified by police and could face years in prison according to investigating sources.