In the boxing competition at the Paris Olympics, 13 gold medals are on the table, with athletes from Cuba, Uzbekistan, the United States, Great Britain and China being the favourites.
PARIS, July 14 (Xinhua) — Boxing, which draws its Olympic roots from the ancient Greek sport of pankration, is considered one of the Olympic marquee sports. Despite recent controversies including financial misconduct, governance issues and refereeing scandals by the International Boxing Association, which was suspended by the IOC, boxing remains a major Olympic sport.
For fans and pundits alike, Olympic boxing is where future superstars make their mark on the world: former gold medallists such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Lennox Lewis and, more recently, Anthony Joshua, have all used the Olympics as a crucial stepping stone to global stardom.
The event will run from July 27th to August 10th.
format
Boxing competitions involve athletes from all over the world competing in a variety of weight classes, from flyweight to super heavyweight.
There are seven weight classes in the men's competition: 51kg, 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92kg and over 92kg. There are six weight classes in the women's competition: 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 66kg and 75kg.
From 1984 to 2012, male boxers wore protective headgear, but this requirement was abolished for the 2016 Rio Olympics; however, female boxers still wear headgear. Men's matches consist of three rounds of three minutes each, while women's matches consist of four rounds of two minutes each. Judges evaluate each round and award 10 points to round winners and 7-9 points to losers based on performance. The final winner is determined by the total points earned in the round.
venue
The tournament will be held across two venues, with the qualifying rounds at Arena Paris Nord in the north of Paris and the medal rounds (semi-finals and finals) at the iconic Roland Garros tennis arena.
candidate
Cuba: Cuba has traditionally been a powerhouse in amateur Olympic boxing after topping the medal list at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but a poor showing at the Pan American Games has resulted in just five Cuban athletes competing in Paris.
Player to watch: Julio Cesar La Cruz – A two-time gold medalist in Tokyo and Rio and the reigning 2023 Pan American Games champion, the 34-year-old La Cruz arrives in Paris as the favorite to defend his title in the 92kg weight class.
Uzbekistan: Having emerged as a boxing powerhouse at the Rio 2016 Games, Uzbekistan has consistently punched above its weight. Finishing runner-up to China at the recent Hangzhou Asian Games, Uzbekistan boasts full-time professional talent within its team.
Fighter to Watch: Bakodir Yarolov – Super heavyweight Yarolov is arguably the toughest fighter in the Olympics. The 7-foot-8 professional heavyweight returns to the Olympics with an unbeaten record of 14 professional bouts, all by knockout.
USA: The U.S. has produced many Olympic boxing champions and stars over the years, but this year's team looks weaker. With only two gold medals to their name at the Pan American Games, the team is looking to younger athletes to rise to the challenge.
Athlete to watch: Jahamar Harvey – Already a World and Pan American gold medalist at just 21 years old, Harvey is one of the most naturally gifted fighters in the Olympic Games and remains the United States' best hope for a gold medal.
Great Britain: Although there are no obvious favourites for the gold medal, the British team goes into Paris with a young and skilled team of athletes.
One to watch: Delicious Ollie – Ollie moved to the UK from Russia and started boxing at the age of 18. Now 27, the super heavyweight has won gold medals at the European and Commonwealth Championships and has drawn comparisons with Anthony Joshua, who also took up boxing late.
China: With a strong field across multiple weight classes, China has a good chance of winning gold medals, especially in the women's division. China topped the boxing medal tally at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, beating Uzbekistan.
Athlete to watch: Wu Yu – Competing in the women's 50kg weight class, Wu is a world champion who has qualified for the Hangzhou Asian Games. A tenacious fighter with incredible stamina, she is a favorite to win the gold medal. ■
