Halimi was World Bantamweight Champion from 1957 to 1959. He took the title April 1, 1957 in Paris, decisioning reigning champion Mario D’Agata. Earlier, he held the French Amateur Bantamweight title from 1953 to 1955 and won the All-Mediterranean title in 1955.

Turning professional after 189 amateur fights, Halimi won his first seven pro bouts by knockout, five of them in the first round.

Fifteen months after losing his World title in July 1959, Halimi captured the European Bantamweight crown. He lost that title seven months later but regained it on June 26, 1962 in Tel Aviv against Piero Rollo. The bout marked the first professional boxing match ever held in the State of Israel.

Halimi’s professional record: 50 bouts—won 41 (21 KOs), lost 8, drew 1.