Paris Olympics: What to know and who to watch during the boxing competition
Cuba's Julio La Cruz, right, and Brazil's Keno Machado fight in the men's boxing 92kg final bout at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Although he took two pro fights in 2022, La Cruz is back to take his own shot at the exclusive club of three-time gold medalists. Credit: AP/Martin Mejia
A roadmap to follow for the boxing tournaments during the Paris Olympics:
Athletes to Watch
—Arlen López, Cuba: Now 31, the two-time Olympic champion will attempt to become the fourth three-time gold medalist in Olympic boxing history. He’ll probably have to beat the Philippines’ Eumir Marcial, a promising pro boxer and Manny Pacquiao protégé.
—Julio César La Cruz, Cuba: Although he took two pro fights in 2022, the punishing heavyweight is back to take his own shot at the exclusive club of three-time gold medalists.
—Teremoana “Junior” Teremoana, Australia: The most compelling fighter on the Aussies’ impressive team might be this 6-foot-6 super heavyweight with four professional knockouts.
—Kellie Harrington, Ireland: The lightweight champion of Tokyo is back to try for a second gold, but she is coming off her first loss in nearly three years and has faced criticism for her perceived anti-immigration stances on social media.
—Busenaz Sürmeneli, Turkey: She utterly dominated the welterweights in Tokyo to win her nation’s first Olympic boxing medal. Now a standard-bearer for the amateur sport, she’s back in Paris with an eye already on Los Angeles.
Busenaz Surmeneli, of Turkey, and Lovlina Borgohain, of India, right, exchange punches during their women's welter weight 64-69kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Sürmeneli dominated the welterweights in Tokyo to win her nation’s first Olympic boxing medal. Now a standard-bearer for the amateur sport, she’s back in Paris with an eye already on Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Themba Hadebe
Storylines to Follow
—The Paris field features the most women’s boxers in Olympic history fighting in a record six weight classes. The women’s sport has grown exponentially since its addition to the Olympic program in 2012, and the current field is deeper than ever.
—After a century of Olympic competition, there’s a chance this will be the final Olympic boxing tournament. The IOC recently cut ties with the sport’s previous governing body and declared boxing could be dropped altogether before Los Angeles, although a breakaway organization is fighting to save it.
Key Dates
Arlen Lopez, of Cuba, right, reacts after defeating Great Britain's Benjamin Whittaker in the light heavy weight 75-81kg finals boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Now 31, the two-time Olympic champion will attempt to become the fourth three-time gold medalist in Olympic boxing history. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
Boxing begins on July 27 and concludes on Aug. 10, one day before the closing ceremony. The final five days of competition, including the gold medal bouts, will be held at the famed Roland Garros tennis complex.
Reigning Champions
—Men’s flyweight: Galal Yafai, Britain.
—Men’s featherweight: Albert Batyrgaziev, ROC.
—Men's lightweight: Andy Cruz, Cuba.
—Men's welterweight: Roniel Iglesias, Cuba.
—Men's light heavyweight: Arlen López, Cuba.
—Men's heavyweight: Julio César La Cruz, Cuba.
—Men's super heavyweight: Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan.
—Women's flyweight: Stoyka Krasteva, Bulgaria.
—Women's bantamweight: New category.
—Women's featherweight: Sena Irie, Japan.
—Women's lightweight: Kellie Harrington, Ireland.
—Women's welterweight: Busenaz Sürmeneli, Turkey.
—Women's middleweight: Lauren Price, Britain.
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