1. Overview
Billal Bennama is a French boxer who has achieved significant success in international amateur competitions, representing France at the highest levels. Born on June 14, 1998, in Blagnac, France, he is known for his achievements across various weight classes, particularly flyweight and bantamweight. His notable accomplishments include winning a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in flyweight, a silver medal at the World Championships in 2023, and two bronze medals at the same championship in 2019 and 2021. Bennama has also secured a gold medal at the European Games in 2023 and has earned both gold and silver medals at the European Amateur Boxing Championships. He stands 5.7 ft (1.75 m) tall.
2. Early Life
2.1. Birth and Family
Billal Bennama was born on June 14, 1998, in Blagnac, a commune in the Haute-Garonne department of France. He is of Algerian descent, with his family having immigrated from Algeria. His father, Mohamed Bennama, was a former Algerian national boxer and later became a respected coach. Mohamed Bennama managed the Blagnac BC boxing club, a local boxing team based in Blagnac, which significantly influenced Billal's early life.
2.2. Introduction to Boxing
Influenced by his father's career and passion for boxing, Billal Bennama began his boxing training at a very young age, starting when he was four years old. This early introduction to the sport laid the foundation for his future career, allowing him to develop his skills under experienced guidance from a tender age.
3. Boxing Career
3.1. Junior and Senior National Representation
Billal Bennama's progression in boxing was marked by his early selection to national teams. In 2014, at the age of sixteen, he was selected for the French junior national team. He continued to develop his skills and eventually made his mark in senior-level boxing. In 2018, he secured a major milestone by winning the French Championship, which led to his inclusion in the French senior national team for the first time.
3.2. Major International Competitions
Billal Bennama has competed extensively in major international boxing tournaments, consistently earning medals and establishing himself as a prominent figure in the sport.
3.2.1. World Championships
Bennama has achieved significant success at the AIBA/IBA World Boxing Championships. He secured his first medal at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Yekaterinburg, where he earned a bronze medal in the flyweight category. He continued his success at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, where he won another bronze medal, this time competing in the bantamweight division. In 2023, he reached the final of the 2023 IBA World Boxing Championships in Tashkent, where he won a silver medal in the flyweight category.
3.2.2. Olympic Games
Bennama's Olympic career reached a pinnacle at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Competing in the men's 51 kg flyweight event, he secured a silver medal, marking a significant achievement in his career and for French boxing.
3.2.3. European Games
Bennama has also excelled at the European Games. In the 2023 Kraków-Małopolska European Games, he achieved a notable victory by winning a gold medal in the men's flyweight category.
3.2.4. European Championships
His performance at the European Amateur Boxing Championships has also been strong. He won a gold medal at the 2022 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Yerevan, competing in the bantamweight division. In 2024, at the 2024 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Belgrade, he added a silver medal to his collection, again in the bantamweight category.
3.2.5. Other Competitions
Beyond these major championships, Bennama has also participated in other significant tournaments. In 2018, he took part in the 2018 Mediterranean Games after becoming a senior national team member.
[https://boxrec.com/en/boxer/863082 Billal Bennama on BoxRec]
[https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/142844 Billal Bennama on Olympedia]