Maurice Bombaert

Maurice Bombaert came onto the Belgian boxing scene in the mid-1940s when he was a finalist in the novice lightweight tournament at the national championships. He was a native of Leuven where he trained under the boxing teacher, Claeys. In July 1948, he was the winner of the Belgian amateur welterweight title, defeating Sabatini of Liège at the national championships held in Gent. Fresh off winning the national welterweight title, Bombaert was selected for the national Belgian boxing team to compete at the London Olympics. There, he placed equal 17th in the welterweight tournament after losing his only match by decision to eventual silver medallist Hank Herring of the USA. Following the Olympics, Bombaert competed as a professional from 1948–53, compiling a record of 13 wins, 13 losses, and 3 draws before retiring from the sport. He was a metallurgist by profession.