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Day 10 of the Olympics: Imane Khelif advances to welterweight final, Harrington wins second gold

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Algeria’s Mane Khelif hits Janjaem Suwannapheng. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Imane Khelif, the Algerian welterweight who struggled with gender misconceptions at the 2024 Olympics, will fight for the gold medal.

Khelif, 25, from Tiaret, Algeria, dominated Thai rival Janjaem Suwannapheng at Roland Garros in Paris, winning 5-0 to advance to the 66-kilogram final on Friday, August 9. There, she will face Chinese Yang Liu, who won her semi-final match against Taiwanese Chen Nien Chin 4-1.

Khelif controlled an basic first round as Suwannapheng struggled to get under the Algerian boxer’s long left jab. Suwannapheng increased her aggression in the second round but continued to struggle to close as Khelif used footwork and counterpunches to keep the fight at a distance that favored her 5’10”.

Khelif’s technical mastery continued into the third round, when a pair of right hands snapped Suwannapheng’s head back for eight standing punches. After the decision was announced, Khelif danced excitedly, preparing to box for a chance to become the North African country’s second female boxing gold medalist, following Hocine Soltani, who won gold in the 60-kilogram weight class at the 1996 Olympics.

While Khelif’s dominance in the ring was noteworthy, the controversy surrounding her inclusion in the Olympics drew far more headlines. Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were among two female boxers denied entry to last year’s World Championships over claims they failed an unspecified gender qualification test.

The world championships are organized by the International Boxing Association, which has been forced to change its name several times and is permanently banned from overseeing Olympic boxing due to management and financial problems. The IBA is headed by Umar Kremlev, a Russian citizen with ties to Vladimir Putin, who oversaw the organization’s headquarters move from Switzerland to Russia.

The controversy hit the headlines last week when Italian Angela Corini pulled out of her fight with Khelif just 46 seconds into the bout, claiming she had been hit harder than she had ever been before.

However, neither of Khelif’s next two opponents were significantly affected by his blows.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told The Associated Press earlier this week that the IBA’s gender tests “are not legal,” while IOC President Thomas Bach suggested the outrage against the two boxers was part of a campaign by Russia.

“We have two boxers who were born female, who were raised female, who have a passport as a female and have been competing as a female for many years,” Bach said. “Some people want to have their own definition of what a woman is.”

Kellie Harrington, a 34-year-old Irish boxer from Dublin, won her second consecutive gold medal, beating China’s Yang Wenlu 4-1 in the women’s 60-kilogram final.

Harrington, who also won the title in the category at the Tokyo Olympics, later told reporters she planned to go to the summit to watch the sunset.

“One last hurrah, I’m done. I’ve always said I wanted to finish as a champion, that’s all,” Harrington told RTE.

“It gives hope to all these newborn kids, all these teenagers. It gives hope to people in Ireland, but it was for me.”

Harrington says he plans to focus on his life with his wife Mandy.

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Boxing

BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years

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Norman vs Hackett

Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.

The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.

Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.

Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.

“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”

So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?

“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.

“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”

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Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth

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Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.

Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.

The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.

Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.

Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.

That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”

“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.

The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.

“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”

Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.

“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.

Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.

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Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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