The boxing competitions have come to an end at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games, as the final four Olympic gold medals were handed out in the men’s super heavyweight, men’s featherweight, women’s featherweight and women’s middleweight brackets.
Bakhodir Jalolov wins second super heavyweight gold
Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov became a two-time Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist by defeating Spain’s Ayoub Ghadfa. Jalolov’s historic achievement was clouded by controversy due to his professional boxing career.
In September 2019, Jalolov, a 6-foot-7 heavyweight, knocked out Richard Torrez Jr. in one round, sparking debate over the fairness of a professional competing in the Olympics. Despite the criticism, Jalolov won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by defeating Torrez in the final. This year, Jalolov faced a significant challenge against only Australia’s Teremoana Junior, proving himself far superior to his competition. He is now the only super heavyweight to win two Olympic gold medals, but his professional status raises questions about the integrity of the modern Olympics and the concept of allowing pros to compete against amateurs.
Uzbekistan secures five boxing gold medals
Uzbek featherweight Abdumalik Khalokov punctuated his country’s dominant boxing performance at the 2024 Olympics by outboxing Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seitbek Uulu. Khalokov, who won every bout 5-0, was one of the most outstanding fighters at the Games. But the success of Uzbekistan has also prompted larger questions, as many of its members are professional boxers.
Khalokov is 1-0 as a professional after turning pro in November 2023. Jalolov has been a professional since 2018, winning both of his Olympic golds during his professional career. Flyweight Hasanboy Dusmatov, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, turned pro in 2019. And heavyweight gold medalist Lazizbek Mullojonov turned pro in 2021. Uzbekistan’s only men’s fighter who has not yet turned pro is welterweight gold medalist Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev.
Lin claims gold despite controversy
Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting won gold in women’s featherweight, defeating Julia Szeremeta of Poland in a decisive victory. This win is particularly notable given that both Lin and Algeria’s Imane Khelif were controversially deemed ineligible to compete by a suspect organization due to a chromosome test. Despite the debate, the IOC deemed them eligible, and now both have won Olympic gold.
The sad thing is, both Lin and Khelif put together historic performances that are not being talked about due to a single test result.
China’s women’s team earns three gold medals
China’s Li Qian won a gritty decision to claim Olympic gold at women’s middleweight, defeating Panama’s Atheyna Bylon. Bylon was fortunate to make it to the gold medal match, as Cindy Ngamba of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team appeared to edge her in the semifinals but did not get the decision.
As with many of Li’s bouts, the fight was a grueling affair that highlighted the less appealing aspects of amateur boxing – clinching, single shots and awkward exchanges. The victory marked the third gold medal for China’s women’s boxing team at the 2024 Olympics, with Wu Yu winning the flyweight gold and Chang Yuan securing gold in bantamweight. Additionally, Yang Wenlu and Yang Liu each earned a silver medal.
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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