In May 2023, history reversed. Park Si Hun, a man controversial awarded Olympic gold on Roy Jones Jr. In Seoul 1988, he appeared at the Pensacola ranch in Jones with a medal in his hand. Thirty -five years later he put it in, admitting what the whole world already knew: “I had a gold medal, but I wanted to give it to you. It belongs to you.”
The moment was surreal. Families gathered, rolling cameras and park – with nervous laughter – added: “This gold medal is your problem now.” For Jones, who has long buried the Olympic robbery under the layers of pride and legendary victories, it was counting. For the park that lived haunted, it was an edition.
The Night Olympic boxing sold his soul
Seul 1988 was one of the most arduous nights in amateur boxing. Roy Jones Jr. The humiliated park, ahead of 86 blows to 32, but three blind or bent judges handed South Korea. The result was 3-2, a divided verdict so broken that all over the world.
Jones left the Val Barker trophy for “the best stylistic game boxer”, but not a medal that should have been around his neck. Many years later, Olympic officials confessed to corruption with whispers of political contracts and national pressure. The IOC quietly renovates amateur points after the scandal – but they have never reversed the decision. They let the robbery stand.
Jones later said that he vowed that he never allows the judges to rob him again: “This day taught me one thing – pull out the judges from it. Throw them out, leave them without a doubt.” And he lived through it. From the juniors of the heavyweight master to the heavyweight master, he created a career who proved that his domination was not a fuchs.
Park’s weight – depression, shame and medal that he never wanted
The park did not escape intact. He apologized to Jones right after the fight, admitting that the decision was wrong. But in South Korea he was not a hero. He became a scapegoat, slandered his own country, fighting depression, suicide attempts and decades of guilt.
In a three -hour seat after the return of the medal, the park admitted: “I never wanted him. It destroyed me.” These are not the master’s words – they are the words of a man carrying someone else. His journey to Pensacoli was a way to relax from this weight.
Jones, surprised by the arrival of the park, admitted that the shock hit him firmly: “I thought I was coming to an interview. I didn’t know I was coming peace with the past.” Now, with a medal in his possession, Jones speaks of a document – not only about theft, but about heritage, immunity and how you live after injustice.
My opinion
Let’s call it what it is: Olympic boxing sold Roy Jones Jr. down the river in ’88. The judges were adaptable, officials were a merciless, and the IOC never had a spine to fix evil. They changed the scoring system, but left the greatest injustice to rot in books. This is corruption dressed up as a reform.
The park reflecting the medal is undoubtedly emotional. But let’s not pretend to remove immaculate slate. Damage was caused. Jones was robbed on the largest stage and the park was ruined as a consequence. Both men got lost in different ways.
And the IOC? They rode ice for free. No responsibility, without an apology, without official reversal. Only bureaucrats are hiding behind their principles, and two fighters had consequences. This is a real scandal.
If Jones creates this document, I hope he breaks into the Olympic suits that allow him to slide down. Because it was not just a bad decision – it was an Olympic box showing the world that it rotted to the core.
Amy Kaplan is a box of boxing since she was 10 years venerable, which means that she spent most of her life, explaining to people that yes, they really prefer nights of fighting at parties. Now, writing to Boxing News 24, it covers everything from the fight for the title of world champion to perspectives swinging as at the day of payment. It combines acute analysis with sarcasm, calling for boxing policy and crossing the spin with the release of the press to give fans stories that actually matter.
Terence Crawford faced and defeated 42 different opponents during a 17-year career, but super-middleweight icon Carl Froch believes that there is one welterweight who would have put an end to Crawford’s unbeaten streak if they were to meet in their primes.
Crawford became the first post-war boxer to claim the undisputed title in three separate weight divisions last September; a run which began as a super-lightweight in 2015 by defeating Thomas Dulorme, then unifying against Viktor Postol before halting Julius Indongo in an undisputed title showdown.
‘Bud’ then moved on to the welterweight scene and knocked out Jeff Horn to capture the WBO world title on his 147lb debut, making five defences of the title before colliding with fierce rival and three-belt unified titleholder, Errol Spence Jr, in 2023.
In a unforgettable fight, Crawford brutally beat Spence down in an authoritative ninth-round stoppage win to capture the undisputed welterweight throne. Talk then turned to an unprecedented three-weight move up to super-middleweight to take on Canelo Alvarez.
After stopping off at super-welterweight to dethrone Israil Madrimov on his way up, Crawford debuted at super-middleweight in a challenge for Canelo’s undisputed crown and outboxed the Mexican superstar in an iconic win last year, hanging up the gloves three months later.
Despite those legendary achievements, Froch picked Floyd Mayweather Jr to come out on top in a potential fantasy fight against the Omaha southpaw, in an episode of ‘Froch on Fighting’.
Mayweather’s achievements speak for themselves, retiring with a perfect 50-0 unbeaten record after claiming world honours in five divisions, with his most impressive reign coming at 147lbs, where he defeated the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley.
Mayweather has been rumoured to make a comeback, but while there would be huge finances that would be on offer, Crawford has revealed that he would have no interest in ending his retirement for a bout with ‘TBE’, believing that the 49-year-old is ‘old’ and ‘done’.
Terence Crawford has been hailed by many as the best fighter of this generation following his retirement, and now WBC welterweight title hopeful Conor Benn has shared how he thinks ‘Bud’ would have fared against six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya.
Crawford became boxing’s sixth five-division world champion with an iconic win over Canelo Alvarez back in September; joining Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in that elite and exclusive club reserved only for legends of the sport.
Of that group, only De La Hoya and Pacquiao have gone on to conquer a sixth division, with De La Hoya’s 2004 WBO middleweight world title win over Felix Sturm seeing the Californian become the first boxer to ever become a sextuple champion.
Crawford could have joined ‘’The Golden Boy’ and ‘Pac-Man’ in achieving that feat, having been offered a middleweight world title shot during the aftermath of his triumph over Canelo late last year – a proposal which later fell apart due to a failed doping test by Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Continuing the praise that the Omaha-born southpaw has received since announcing his retirement last December, Benn told Daily Mail Boxing that he would favour the undefeated star to get the better of De La Hoya, if they were to meet in their primes.
Benn also went on to predict that Crawford would retain his unbeaten streak against other greats of the game, picking him to come out on top against each of Mayweather, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran.
Top trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia has considered the outcome of a fantasy showdown between Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
The two generational greats reportedly came close to squaring off in 2021, back when Crawford was the WBO welterweight champion and ‘Pac Man’ held the WBA title.
Their unification match never materialised, though, as Pacquiao was scheduled to face Errol Spence Jr before ‘The Truth’ pulled out with a torn retina.
Instead, the Filipino legend ended up losing his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas at a stage when, while still serviceable, he was quite clearly past his best.
Crawford, meanwhile, was hitting top form around this time, just a few fights away from producing arguably a career-best performance against Spence.
He did, of course, manage to stop his welterweight rival in nine rounds, before moving up to 168lbs and becoming a three-division undisputed champion by dethroning Canelo Alvarez last September.
Based on those two performances, coach Garcia has told ESNEWS that he would favour ‘Bud’ to defeat even a prime version of Pacquiao.
“The Crawford that beat Spence – and the Crawford that beat Canelo – would probably beat Manny.”
While Crawford’s prime almost certainly came during his run of eight stoppages at welterweight, it is harder to pinpoint when Pacquiao ultimately reached his peak.
In terms of his most destructive performance at world level, however, many will point towards his second-round finish over Ricky Hatton in 2009.
While facing the ‘Hitman’ at 140lbs, Pacquiao would cement himself as a formidable welterweight champion soon after, dethroning Miguel Cotto with a 12th-round stoppage for the WBO title.
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