Robby Gonzales (aka Rahim Gonzales) was once considered one of the favorites to make the U.S. boxing team and win an Olympic gold medal in 2024. However, the light heavyweight failed to qualify for the Olympics.
Gonzalez suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the second Olympic World Qualifier in Bangkok, where he was defeated by Weerapol Jongjoho of Thailand.
Gonzalez won the first round with four of the five judges' votes. Jeongdjoho won the second round with all five judges' votes. The third and final round was a disaster for Gonzalez, who lost a 3-2 split decision, ending his Olympic dreams.
Gonzalez posted the following on his Instagram account after the match:
“I gave it my all in the ring tonight but the result was disappointing! I lost a controversial 3-2 split decision to local favorite Jongjoho from Thailand. Thank you to my coaches and staff at @usaboxing for the opportunity and support. An amateur career is something only a few can dream of!!! World Amateur Champion and USA's #1 Light Heavyweight for the 7th year in a row! If you don't take the chance, you never know what could have been. On to the next chapter of my boxing career…to be continued.”
Gonzalez, 28, was expected to medal at the 2020 Olympics but was unable to qualify due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because qualifying was canceled, the U.S. team's Olympic qualification was based on the 2019 world rankings. Gonzalez did not have the necessary rankings to compete. He chose to wait until the 2024 Olympics rather than turn professional.
Gonzalez won gold at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, becoming the only two fighters in USA Boxing history to accomplish that feat at the tournament: he and featherweight Jamal Harvey, who has qualified for the 2024 Olympics.
In March, Gonzalez lost in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers in Lombardy, Italy, to Andrey Cemez, and in October he lost in the first round of the Pan American Games to Christian Piñales. This comes after a stellar 2023 that saw him win the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the GeeBee Tournament in Finland.
