Women have been competing in Olympic boxing only since 2012, but there is now a generation of young fighters who have had the opportunity to grow up with the Olympic ideal demonstrated for them in real time. This Olympic Games might set the highest standards yet for the women. What follows is a preview of this competition at the 2024 Paris Games.
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Favorites: Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist, brings an aggressive style and high volume that poses a significant challenge. She remains undefeated in high-level, world-class competition. Brazil’s Caroline de Almeida, winner of the 2023 Pan American Games, defeated Team USA’s Jennifer Lozano in the finals. China’s Wu Yu boasts victories over numerous notable fighters in the division, offering a formidable test.
Darkhorses: Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova has enjoyed substantial success with multiple wins in international competitions. Lozano dominated from 2021-2022 and has demonstrated success. Mongolia’s Oyuntsetsegiin Yesügen is an aggressive puncher with significant achievements in international competition, despite recent losses to elite fighters like Yu.
U.S. representative: Lozano emerges as a wild card, displaying versatility in securing victories. Despite facing one of the toughest brackets, she resembles past fighters such as Duke Ragan, who defied expectations to earn a silver medal in the previous Olympics.
Matchups to watch: Cakiroglu versus Lozano in the quarterfinals, Yu versus Sabina Bobokulova in the quarterfinals.
Possible gold medal match: Wu versus Cakiroglu.
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Favorites: Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova is the favorite, having dominated international competition. Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang, a bronze medalist at the 2020 Olympics, stands out at 5-foot-9 for the weight class. Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic, who has lost this year only to Petrova, also ranks among the notables. Australia’s Tiana Echegaray, Brazil’s Tatiana Chagas and Colombia’s Yeni Arias all have favorable draws on their side of the bracket. One of the three should be in the finals.
Darkhorses: Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong, a pro boxer who performed well in the 2020 Olympics, could be a notable spoiler. North Korea’s Chol Mi Pang is listed as the best in her weight class on BoxRec but has faced extremely limited competition since the pandemic. Great Britain’s Charley Davison is a talented fighter capable of making a run.
U.S. representative: No American boxer qualified for this division.
Matchups to watch: Hsiao-Wen versus Petrova in the round of 16, Jitpong versus Pang in the round of 16, Echegaray versus Chagas in the semifinals.
Possible gold medal match: Petrova versus Chagas.
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Favorites: The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio, who won silver at the 2020 Olympics, is the favorite. Petecio’s pro style and high volume make her a challenging opponent. Italy’s Irma Testa, a three-time world champion (2019, 2022, 2023) is a strong contender. Colombia’s Valeria Arboleda and Brazil’s Jucielen Romeu have had success at the Pan Am Games and in international competition. France’s Amina Zidani has a solid path to the finals and is from these Games’ home country, which can be advantageous.
Darkhorses: Tina Rahimi, an Iranian representing Australia, has performed well in international competition and could make a strong showing. Team USA’s Alyssa Mendoza had an impressive domestic run from 2021-2022, beating top competitors. If she regains that form, she could reach the podium. Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva, the 2024 European champion, and Puerto Rico’s Ashleyann Lozada, who has a strong international record, are also worth watching.
U.S. representative: Mendoza is an unknown quantity. She dominated the U.S. nationals to secure her spot, edging out Sierra Martinez, the Olympic Trials winner. Yet Mendoza qualified at the last qualification event, which didn’t reflect her success in the U.S. Her division is open for someone to emerge and make a run, and Mendoza could be that fighter.
Matchups to watch: Zidani versus Petecio in the round of 16, Mendoza versus Romeu in the round of 16, Petecio versus Testa – a rematch of their 2020 Olympic bout.
Possible gold medal match: Romeu versus Petecio.
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Favorites: Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, who lost to Ireland’s Kellie Harrington in the gold medal match at the 2020 Olympics, is the IBF women’s lightweight titleholder and a dominant force in the pros. While a rematch of the last Olympic final seems likely, most favor Ferreira, who has improved since her silver. Harrington, aiming for another gold, boasts a brilliant style that is well-suited for the amateurs and potentially the pros. France’s Estelle Mossely, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, seeks to recreate her Olympic magic after a stalled professional career. Despite losing to Harrington in international competition, she holds an advantage over most competitors.
Darkhorses: Team USA’s Jajaira Gonzalez features a pro style of come-forward aggression that overwhelms opponents. The question is whether she can maintain this approach against the division’s elite in a short tournament. Gonzalez, who also holds a Pan Am Games silver, has a chance to medal. China’s Wenlu Yang, the 2022 Asian Games gold medalist, is a formidable contender who might be outgunned by the division’s top fighters. Nigeria’s Cynthia Ogunsemilore, with limited world-level amateur experience, has been impressive. It’s a sink-or-swim moment for her, but she could emerge as a surprise contender.
U.S. representative: Gonzalez has a realistic chance to medal and should be in contention against one of the big names in the tournament. This is one of the strongest brackets in the Olympics, and drawing a former gold medalist in Mossely in the first round will be a challenging test.
Matchups to watch: Gonzalez versus Mossely in the round of 32 and a Harrington-versus-Ferreira rematch of the 2020 Olympic gold medal match, which is possible in the semifinals.
Possible gold medal match: Yang versus Ferreira.
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Favorites: It is a two-person race at the top. Turkey’s aggressive Busenaz Surmeneli, who won silver in the 2020 Olympics, overpowered most of her opponents until the finals. Algeria’s Imane Khelif has won all the events Surmeneli hasn’t, placing these two above the rest of the division. China’s Liu Yang – a big, tall and awkward fighter – medaled at the 2020 Olympics. Team USA’s Morelle McCane could be the most fundamentally sound fighter in the division, and is expected to medal – although Khelif has been her kryptonite so far.
Darkhorses: Italy’s Angela Carini has a deep pedigree and holds a win over McCane, though she was stopped by Surmeneli in 2022, raising concerns about her durability. Brazil’s Barbara Maria dos Santos is another fighter to watch, with her only major losses coming to Khelif and Australian veteran Kaye Scott. Santos comes from a strong Brazilian program that regularly produces medalists. Great Britain’s Rosie Eccles, a gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games, has significant experience, often reaching the semifinals of major events but struggling to advance further.
U.S. representative: Morelle McCane has a strong chance at medaling, potentially even winning gold, as she has a good path to the podium.
Matchups to watch: Surmeneli versus Eccles in the round of 16, Surmeneli versus Khelif in the semifinals.
Possible gold medal match: Surmeneli versus McCane.
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Favorites: Canada’s Tammara Thibeault is a strong favorite for gold, having consistently won and showcased a diverse skill set above that of her peers. Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke, with an impressive winning streak in high-level competition, is a formidable threat. China’s Li Qian, with her awkward style, is also a strong contender, having won bronze in the 2020 Olympics.
Darkhorses: Mexico’s Citlalli Ortiz, who previously competed in USA Boxing, shifted focus to qualifying for Mexico after the pandemic. Known for her power and ability to hurt opponents, Ortiz must increase her punch volume – crucial in amateur boxing. Australia’s Caitlin Parker has the potential for a deep run with her combination punching, athleticism and overall ability. Cindy Ngamba, representing the Refugee Olympic Team, has lost only to the very best and has won a lot in international competitions. She could break out and have a big tournament.
U.S. representative: The U.S. did not qualify for this division.
Matchups to watch: Thibeault versus O’Rourke in the semifinals, Ortiz versus Parker in the opening round.
Possible gold medal match: Thibeault versus Qian.
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
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