As we near the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, four Olympic gold medals were handed out in the men’s welterweight, women’s flyweight, men’s heavyweight and women’s welterweight on Friday.
Khelif claims gold for Algeria
Algeria’s Imane Khelif has added a new title to her name – Olympic gold medalist – a distinction that will forever be hers. Khelif overcame China’s Yang Liu, who won the 2023 World Championships after Khelif was barred mid-competition due to a failed chromosome test (administered by a suspect organization) – a controversy that has overshadowed her remarkable Olympic run.
Khelif struggled initially but found her rhythm in the final minute of the first round, using her timing to take the lead. In the second round, she showcased her versatility by adopting a defensive, counterpunching approach. As Liu pressed forward, Khelif continued to outmaneuver her, methodically cruising to victory.
Khelif’s victory cements her saga as one of the major stories of the Olympic Games.
Uzbekistan matches 2016 gold medal tally
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered for the dominance of Uzbekistan’s boxing team, which matched its best-ever 2016 Olympic tally of three gold medals. Welterweight Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev proved too much for Marco Verde, ending Mexico’s hopes of securing its first Olympic boxing gold since 1968. Muydinkhujaev's commanding performance made him the second Uzbek boxer to win gold at the 2024 Olympics.
In the heavyweight division, often overshadowed by its professional counterpart, Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Mullojonov delivered a shutout victory against Azerbaijan’s Loren Alfonso, a Cuban defector. Mullojonov’s dominance secured Uzbekistan’s third gold in boxing. With super heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov set to fight Ayoub Ghadfa, Uzbekistan has a chance to set a new home-country record, as Jalolov is heavily favored to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Another gold for China
China’s Wu Yu captured the women’s flyweight gold, defeating Turkey’s Buse Cakiroglu in a surprising upset. Despite entering the bout as a 3-to-1 underdog against the 5-to-1 favorite Cakiroglu, Yu outworked her opponent, dashing Cakiroglu’s hopes for Olympic gold.
Yu’s victory comes a day after her compatriot Chang Yuan won the women’s bantamweight gold. For Cakiroglu, the defeat leaves her with a second consecutive Olympic 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.