Legendary boxer Jerzy Kulej laid to rest
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
20.07.2012 18:01
Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among those who took part in the funeral of legendary Polish boxer Jerzy Kulej on Friday.
The boxing hero was laid to rest at Warsaw's historic cemetery of Powazki: photo - PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The former champion, who died aged 71 on 13 June, was among the most successful Polish sportsmen of his day, winning two Olympic gold medals for his country (1964 and 1968).
Over his entire career of 348 fights, he won 317, drew 6 and lost 25.
In addition to his Olympic victories, he won gold at the European Championships of both 1963 and 1965.
Kulej was a member the Poland's communist party from 1975 to 1990. Following the transformation, he ran for a seat as an MP for various parties, including the Polish Party of Friends of Beer.
He eventually won a seat for the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) in 2001, a party dominated by former communists, before switching to splinter group the Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL).
Kulej was also a sometime boxing commentator for commercial television station Polsat Sport.
The burial at the historic Powazki cemetery in Warsaw was attended by scores of fans, as well as a number of luminaries from the worlds of sport and entertainment, including actor Daniel Olbrychski. (nh)