The 48-year-old, nicknamed 'Momo the turbulent' during his career which ended in 2011, was discovered by his son in an apartment in Palavas-les-Flots, six km south of Montpellier, the Midi Libre newspaper reported.
Prosecutors in the southern French city confirmed that a murder enquiry had been opened into the death of former Franco-Tunisian boxer.
In his 2004 autobiography, entitled 'Momo the turbulent - from thuggery to the jet-set', Dridi described how he had "figured in the Top 10 of organised crime" but had been "saved" by boxing.
During his career he was a four-time world champion -- winning all his 77 bouts including 76 by KO.
Dridi also pursued an acting career and had several roles in television series.
