The International Olympics Committee (OIC) allowed professional boxers to compete in the Boxing Olympics Games, a move that was unconceivable decades ago. The decision could've given Manny Pacquiao the chance to add the Olympic gold medal in his trophy case, but he chose to run for senator.
Again (If he didn't, he might've qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics.) Pacquaio, the Pambansang Kamao, might be regretting his decision, as the 2024 Summer Olympics draws near. OIC thinks Pacquiao is too old for amateur boxing.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) tried to use the "universality" card in the Paris Games, but it didn't work out. The Philippines had past success in boxing, the OIC pointed out. (Some local boxing fans would argue that the Philippines hasn't won an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
Yet. OIC might be referring to the Filipino boxers who turned professional and became world champions in their respective division.) Pacquiao has to settle with watching another boxing fight on TV, and having to see a few (professional) boxers who would attempt for another shot for Olympic glory.
The IBA World Boxing Championships, which is held a year before the Olympics, is an indicator of which boxers would shine in the boxing Olympic stage. (We can add the European Amateur Boxing Championships if we include upcoming boxing fights 2024.) However, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine tarnished the biennial event. (The 2023 IBA Men's World Boxing Championships was held in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic.
The United States was one of many nations that boycotted the championship.) Paris will host the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. France hasn't been embroiled in any political conflict, so expect most countries to send their best boxers. (Russia had moderate success in the sports. Will the highly-touted Russian boxers be missed? It depends on which fans you would ask. You can visit OKBet Sports - the leading platform on boxing news.)
Here they are:
Kellie Harrington (Women's lightweight)
Kelly Harrington's back story inspired those who aspired to follow in her steps; she was a part-time cleaner at the St. Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital, and said that she would return to her (old) job if she didn't win in Tokyo. Not a few didn't take her words, though. (The Irish boxer won the lightweight division in the 2018 World Amateur Boxing Championships.) Life took a better turn after her Olympic victory. And she was undefeated during the three years that followed the 2020 Olympics.
Harrington competed in the 2023 European Championships and suffered her first loss (in three years). A (deleted) tweet, which revealed her view on immigrants, put her in a hot seat. She apologized for that tweet (and moved on).
"I know what it is to lose and I know it's OK to lose so long as you learn from it and you move forward. Loss is a part of life and it is inevitable and it is going to happen and it doesn't define us as people."
Harrington, who turned 34 last year, qualified for the 2024 Summer Games, and she would attempt to be the third Irish boxer to defend an Olympic title successfully. Those two setbacks put a bit of a fire under her ass (as she put it). It's too early to ask her about her next big boxing fight. but no one is belittling her chances on the ring.
Julio Cesar La Cruz (Men's heavyweight)
Julio Cesar La Cruz, the two-time Olympic champion, was the team captain of Cuban boxers who inked a deal with Golden Ring. The contract would allow Cuban boxers to compete professionally, a huge shift from the policy of Fidel Castro in the 1970s. La Cruz won his bout against Deivis Casseres of Colombia. (Fans might be interested in his upcoming pay per view boxing fights.) And then he was triumphant at the 2023 Pan-American games gold medal (in Santiago). He's the first boxer to win four gold medals in this quadrennial multi-sports event in the Americas. He will retire after the 2024 Olympics.
"At the amateur level, Cubans are the best boxers in history," La Cruz said. "I want to retire now and spend time with my family. Being a bix boxer is a big sacrifice and time away from my family," he added.
Julio Cesar La Cruz is hard to beat after winning the 2021 World Championships. Teremoana Teremoana (of Australia), probably the only boxer standing on his way to his third Olympic gold medal. (Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon are the only Cuban boxers to win three consecutive gold medals in the same division.) Many fans are looking forward to a mouth-watering match between the two.
Arlen Lopez (Men's light heavyweight)
Fans are excited about the star-studded men's light heavyweight division. (And there's no need to check those upcoming major boxing fights.)
Arlen Lopez is aiming for his third Olympic gold medal, but he has serious competition; Eumir Marcial of the Philippines, who won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, qualified for the Paris Olympics. The native of Zamboanga wants to win the Olympic title (on his final Olympic stint), but he's aware of the boxers to watch out for. (Eumir Marcial might meet Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine, who narrowly defeated the Filipino boxer in the semifinals of the 2020 Games. Both boxers moved from the middleweight division to the light heavyweight division.)
Lopez, who turned professional after winning the gold medal in Tokyo, knew the other contenders standing in his way. (Nurbek Oralbay of Kazakhstan won the light heavyweight division in the 2023 Men's World Boxing Championships while Tuohertaerbieke Tanglatihan of China is the gold medal winner at the 2022 Asian Games.) The odds favor the Cuban boxer (at the moment).
Busenaz Surmeneli (Women's welterweight)
Busenaz Surmeneli became the first Turkish boxer to win the Olympic gold medal, and her performance in Tokyo impressed boxing fans. (She won her bouts by a lopsided 5-0 score.) The native of Bursa, Turkey is a heavy favorite to defend her Olympic title in Paris, winning the gold medal in the 2022 World Amateur Boxing Championships (in Istanbul) and then the gold in the 2024 European Championships (in Belgrade). A serious injury would be the only thing to keep her from becoming a two-time Olympic champion. It happened. She had surgery on her right shoulder last year. Time is on her side, though.
"Following the surgery, I underwent a recovery process, which has been progressing well. Fortunately, I have been able to bounce back quickly. Although I may be 100% ready for the quota competitions, I'm striving to reach 80% readiness. Once I get the necessary visa, I believe I can expedite my recovery and be fully prepared."
Amina Zidani (women's featherweight)
Boxing fans are looking at Estelle Mosselly's second attempt to win an Olympic title. Mosselly turned professional, and became a mother of two, after winning the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. She may have lost in the Round of 16 in the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships (in New Delhi, India), but the home court advantage would give her the edge. But Amina Zidani is THE French boxer who is likely to win the gold medal.
Zidani qualified for the Paris Games after winning the gold medal in the 2023 European Championships. She won the bronze medal in the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships. Zidani's fans don't have to hold their breath for her latest boxing fights: the 2024 Olympics could be her breakthrough. Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines, who won the silver medal in Tokyo (in the same division), is the likely dark horse.
Don’t miss out on the action – invite your friends to join you in the thrill of online boxing betting at OKBet. Experience the rush together and double the fun! Sign up today, place your bets, and cheer on your favorite boxers as they fight for gold. With OKBet, every match is a knockout!
