A video of a transgender boxer punching a female opponent has gone viral online just hours before the transgender athlete in question is due to fight a female opponent this Thursday. Algeria's Imane Kherif will fight Italy's Carini Angela on Thursday, despite the fact that Kherif has proven to have male XY chromosomes. Kherif, along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, were banned from boxing at last year's world championships due to the fact that both Kherif and Yu-ting were proven to be biologically male.
Footage of Kherif inflicting heavy punishment on Mexico's Brianda Tamara in a bout in December 2022 shows just how much stronger he was compared to his female opponents. Now, many fans have taken to social media to express their outrage, with experts and former fighters such as Barry McGuigan also expressing strong feelings, and groups such as Fair Play for Women also speaking out against the move.
“On Thursday, a male boxer will compete against a female boxer in front of cheering spectators and a television audience. Gender testing has confirmed that Kherif has male XY chromosomes,” a message from FPFW said.
As for the video of Kherif hitting Tamara, there is also a quote from Tamara after the fight circulating.
“When I fought her I felt inadequate,” Tamara wrote on social media. “Her blows hurt me so much. I don't think I've ever felt that way in my 13 years as a boxer and sparring with men. I thank God I got out of the ring safe that day and I'm glad they finally noticed.”
When Tamara wrote “I'm glad they finally realized,” she was referring to the powers that be who expelled Kheriff and Yuting from last year's World Championships because they “finally” realized that these two boxers are actually men. But now, since the IBA, which made the decision to expel Kheriff and Yuting from the World Championships, no longer has any control over the Olympics and this organization has been replaced by the IOC, both transgender fighters will fight in Paris according to the IOC's ruling, and of course against women.
And, of course, for many, this is nothing short of a disgrace. And, needless to say, we all hope that no physical harm comes to any female opponents who will be sharing the ring with Khelif or Yuting. We pray that no future opponent of Angela, Khelif or Yuting will be seriously injured with the whole world watching.
“It should never have gotten to this point,” McGuigan wrote this week after hearing that two transgender boxers were going to fight a female boxer. And it's true. How do you defend this? Why would anyone even try?
Bottom line: you are either male or female, and if you have XY chromosomes you are male. End of debate and argument. There is no in-between. There is definitely no in-between in the extremely dangerous sport of boxing.
