The smell of a wet leather bag, blood, and sweat never fades, Alain recalls. As a child, he sometimes went with his father to training sessions in a small basement in Esch.
Clément Tshinza arrived in Luxembourg in 1971, in his early twenties, and boxed professionally until 1983. He became one of the most prominent figures in Luxembourg boxing in the 1970s, with 50 victories, 23 of them by knockout.
A highlight came in 1974 at the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' in Kinshasa, where Muhammad Ali famously beat George Foreman. Clément fought on the undercard that night, holding his own on an international stage.
According to Alain's research, his father was only the second boxer from Congo to come to the Grand Duchy, with about a dozen more following in the years after. Local boxing managers were looking for new talent to reinvigorate the sport, and the arrival of Congolese boxers sparked a new boom.
Growing up surrounded by photos of those days, Alain only later realised how remarkable his father's journey was. "Not everyone gets the chance to meet Muhammad Ali and so many of the great boxers from the 1970s", he says. Inspired by that legacy, he set out to tell the story.
'Boxing Stories' covers the athletes who shaped the heyday of Luxembourg boxing, but also looks to the present and future of the sport. The film tells life stories that are often difficult but may inspire others. Alain was struck by how gentle and vulnerable these strong men and women proved to be beneath the surface.
