It's a tragedy that has shaken the world of sports. Ishaq Bentchakal, a former two-time French amateur boxing runner-up, was found dead Wednesday in Drancy, shot four times in the chest and neck. The 24-year-old, who showed great promise in the sport, was the victim of what investigators are calling an "execution."
His body was discovered by a building caretaker; five 9mm shell casings were found at the crime scene. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots around 23:30 p.m. the previous evening but initially mistook them for firecrackers. An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of this particularly violent murder.
A promising career hampered by setbacks
Ishaq Bentchakal's career seems like a wasted opportunity. Spotted very early on, this Colombes native refused to join the Nancy Regional Center for Sports and Physical Education (CREPS) and the French national team to stay close to his family. Turning professional at 19, his career was hampered by the pandemic, then by legal troubles. He received an 18-month prison sentence for extortion and was facing charges in a drug case.
The contrast is striking between the disciplined young athlete, who had been training since the age of nine, and the man caught in a disturbing downward spiral. His last professional victory dated back to March 2024, before he definitively put his career on hold. The boxing world mourns today a promising talent whose destiny has taken a tragic turn.
