One of the most controversial moments in Olympic boxing history — let alone at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea — was the controversial decision in the light middleweight final that saw Park Si-hun defeat Roy Jones Jr. via judges’ decision. The result proved to be one of the biggest black eyes in the Olympic sport, and allegations of corruption have seemed to be given evidential proof in the years since.
Now, while the result of Jones Jr.’s loss can never be overturned, Si-hun made sure a right was wronged when he made a surprise visit to Jones Jr.’s farm in Pensacola, Florida in May 2023.
It was there where he gave a gift to Jones — the gold medal that he beat Jones for in those Olympic games 37 years ago.
Jones posted video of the exchange to his YouTube channel earlier this month.
Park Si-hun Gifted 1988 Olympics Gold Medal To Roy Jones Jr. In May 2023
Though Jones, who was only 19 at the time, completely out-struck Si-hun 86-32 during the contest, Si-hun was awarded the win and gold medal 3-2 on the judges’ scorecards. The decision led to changes in the Olympic boxing scoring structure, and judges who scored against Jones faced disciplinary action, including suspensions and/or bans.
Si-hun never fought again after the 1988 Olympics, unable to deal with the aftermath of his controversial victory.
Jones Jr., meanwhile, went on to become one of the greatest professional boxers in history, winning championships at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. This included a run as the undisputed light heavyweight champion between 1999 and 2002.
Jones last fought in April 2023, which was his first fight in five years at the time, dropping a majority decision to Anthony Pettis.
Michael Bisping recently expressed his reservations about Jake Paul’s ambitions to compete in boxing at the 2028 Olympics.
In the latest episode of his podcast, “The Problem Child” voiced his frustration with the underwhelming performance of American boxers at the Paris Olympics. He stated that the setback has ignited his desire to throw his hat into the ring for the upcoming Summer Games in Los Angeles, United States, four years from now.
“I’m going to enter the 2028 Olympics for boxing in Los Angeles,” Paul said. “I’m sick and tired of waiting around, waiting for another gold for Team U.S.A. … I probably just added a couple more years on to my boxing career because of that, but Los Angeles, United States, sick as f**k.
Paul’s quest for a gold medal is fueled by the fact that the U.S. has not claimed a boxing medal in the heavyweight division since Deontay Wilder secured a bronze in 2008. The last time an American heavyweight struck gold was when Ray Mercer triumphed in 1988 against Tommy Morrison.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the influencer boxing scene, boasting a 10-1 career record, highlighted by a TKO victory over Mike Perry on June 20. However, of his 11 bouts, six have been against opponents with five or fewer professional boxing matches under their belts, including notable retired MMA stars like Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Ben Askren.
Paul usually competes at around 200 pounds, placing him in the heavyweight division should he ever qualify for the Olympics. However, the road ahead will be long and challenging. To even reach the Olympic trials, American boxers must meet six stringent eligibility requirements and secure a top-two finish in a qualifier tournament within an Olympic weight category.
“The Count” insists that making it to the Olympics is no small feat, and Paul won’t have the advantages he enjoyed under his own banner, Most Valuable Promotions…
Bisping Doubts Paul Can Handle Rigors Of Olympic Boxing Standards
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping responded to Paul’s ambitions of competing in the 2028 Summer Olympics. The former UFC middleweight champion acknowledged the success and fame “The Problem Child” has achieved in his professional boxing career but pointed out that to contend in such elite sporting events, Paul would need to measure up to some of the greatest boxers of all time.
“Fair enough, the man wants to go and compete in the Olympics, and you know what, I’ve actually got a lot of respect for him,” Bisping said. “Jake Paul is kind of doing it the opposite way around because he’s very famous, he’s had a lot of professional boxing fights, and he’s going to go to the amateurs. But the guy that just won the Olympic gold medal has actually had four professional boxing bouts as well. Now, if Jake Paul were to win the Olympics, I mean, that would be incredible, and he would join the likes of the great Muhammad Ali, the GOAT George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Oscar De La Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Mark Breland—the list goes on and on.”
However, the UFC Hall of Famer went on to highlight that the real test for Paul in competing at the Olympics isn’t just about his skill in the ring. The true challenge will be stepping outside the comfort of his own promotions, enduring the grind of fighting day after day, and managing the rigorous weight cuts required to qualify for the competition.
“For Jake Paul, if you did go and fight in the Olympics, well, first of all, it wouldn’t be his promotion, would it? So he wouldn’t be able to cherry-pick opponents; he wouldn’t be able to take people that are way past their sell-by date, like Mike Tyson. If he goes to the Olympics, a lot of things will change, that’s for sure. Number one, he wouldn’t be able to cut weight because, in the Olympics, you’re going to have to box every few days. It wouldn’t be his promotion, so everything’s not going to be centered around him. There wouldn’t be a massive payday on display; he will be doing it literally to represent his country, to test himself, and potentially to become an Olympic gold medalist.”
Paul is scheduled to take on former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, marking the first-ever combat sports event to stream live on Netflix.
A record has been set at the 2024 instalment of The Olympic Games by Cuban wrestler Mijaín López.
In fact, López was able to check off two Olympic records with his latest gold medal win by becoming the oldest medallist in the history of the competition at 41 years old.
He has also become the first athlete to win a staggering five consecutive gold medals in the same event by winning the top prize in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and now 2024.
After proving himself to be the best in the world from Beijing to London to Rio to Tokyo and now Paris, he ended what will forever be a legendary run in the sport by taking off his shoes and leaving them on the mat to mark the end of his Greco-Roman wrestling career.
Not only did he make history as one of the greatest competitors to ever grace the games, he sealed the historic win in dominant fashion.
His former training partner Yasmani Acosta Fernández is another elite wrestler but as a fellow Cuban, he was never able to get ahead of López in the pecking order.
After becoming a Chilean citizen, he took home the silver after being convincingly beaten 6-0 by his former countryman.
After winning his fifth gold medal in his fifth consecutive Olympic games, Cuba's Mijaín López left his shoes on the mat to signify his retirement from the sport 👏
MMA Fans React To Mijaín López Retiring After Making History
Wrestling is always going to be a crucial aspect of mixed martial arts and so many top fighters have achieved success in the cage after coming through this background.
With that in mind, MMA fans reacted on social media to the record-setting Olympian going out on top as López left Paris with another emphatic performance.
“Man if he went to ufc he woulda dominated the heavyweight division easily n been rich”
Man if he went to ufc he woulda dominated the heavyweight division easily n been rich
Joe Rogan recently reiterated his stance that the Olympic Games are primarily profit-driven ventures for the major investors that back them, while the athletes themselves receive negligible monetary compensation.
The Olympic Games stand as the pinnacle of global sporting events, drawing thousands of top-class athletes from across the globe to compete in an extensive array of competitions every four years.
The 33rd Summer Olympics are currently taking place in Paris, France. Since the opening ceremony on July 26, this year’s games have been shrouded in controversy. The organizers have had to apologize for certain performances held along the River Seine that were seen by many as blasphemous. Critics argue that these acts parodied Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, “The Last Supper.”
A pitch for seven Olympic rings, what do you all think? Shall we accept it?
However, the veteran UFC color commentator has a different bone to pick with the Olympics, primarily revolving around the meager financial rewards for the participating athletes…
Rogan Lambasts Olympic Stakeholders For Creating Unfavorable System For Athletes
During a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, featuring UFC light heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree as the guest, Rogan once again leveled scathing criticism at the modern Olympics and its underlying system.
The 56-year-old MMA commentator claimed that the substantial revenue generated by stakeholders and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from these events fails to benefit the athletes who actually perform. He accused the Olympic leadership of exploiting athletes while reaping enormous financial rewards.
“The Olympics is a giant scam,” Rogan said. “There are two things going on simultaneously, okay? You have the best athletes in the world participating in their disciplines. And then on top of that, you have enormous amounts of money being made, and none of it’s going to the athletes. It is a giant scam.”
Rogan further blasted the apparent parody of “The Last Supper” painting, asserting that it was deliberately crafted to offend religious sentiments.
“So the kind of people that are putting together that ridiculous ceremony, we got a bunch of drag queens in ‘The Last Supper’ that nobody understands because it’s not made by athletes, it’s not made by the Olympics, it’s made by the people that are in charge of putting the Olympics out. So they’re the ones who are reaping all the money and sucking all the cash out of these athletes.”
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games mark a groundbreaking first, as the IOC will directly compensate winning athletes, awarding $50,000 to each gold medalist.
Until this year, athletes typically relied on personal sponsorships for their income and received financial backing from their national Olympic organizations.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 31, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Anik says fans are biased against Muhammad
Allen labels Olympic Games as corrupt
UFC veteran says Mokaev didn’t have a leg to stand on
Jon Anik Says Fans Criticism Of UFC 304 Main Event Is Out Of Dislike For Belal Muhammad
Whilst the majority of each round was spent with either Muhammad or Leon Edwards holding the other in a dominant position with little action, the momentum of the fight did swing back and forth at points.
Anik said that to make it clear, he is a huge fan of both men because whilst he may be friends with the new champion, his career will always be tied to “Rocky” and his title reign.
On the Anik & Florian Podcast recap of this past weekend’s event, he said that some were looking for a way to criticize Muhammad rather than praise him.
“So I’m not sure what exactly we are looking for, I think a lot of people just watch Belal Muhammad with a tainted eye and that’s why I tweet, “cry”, right. I am a Leon Edwards fan as anyone knows, ‘Shabba Madda Pot’ is my favorite song.
“My most significant call of my career is Leon Edwards, the favorite moment of my professional career is when Leon hugged me after the fact, six months later. But, it is time to put respect on the name Belal Muhammad.”
Arnold Allen Criticizes The Paris Olympic Games Amidst Multiple Controversies
The Paris Olympic Games are in full swing but this particular instalment has been defined by controversy from the very start.
In a recent series of posts on social media, UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen voiced his opinions on how the event has become unwatchable over time.
He may have been planning to spend some time this summer watching the games after returning to the win column this past weekend at UFC 304 but “Almighty” has had to tap out.
Allen referred to Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde who qualified for this year’s games despite being convicted of child rape in 2016.
Always loved watching the olympics when I was younger, it was always corrupt but now it’s beyond a joke, how can anyone support that shit
Matt Brown Says The UFC Made The Right Call Regarding Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract Status
UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on the recent UFC departure of undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev.
Like many, he admitted that he was surprised at first given the ability and potential that “The Punisher” brings to the table.
Brown was also able to identify why the UFC would want to walk away from resigning the fighter, if he’s causing issues behind the scenes.
Crucially, he pointed out how Mokaev isn’t in a position where the juice is worth the squeeze given his profile in the sport and performances, compared to other controversial fighters on the roster.
During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, “The Immortal” said that he understands the promotion’s call after what went down on fight week.
“I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.
“Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced that two boxers, previously disqualified from last year’s World Championships due to failing gender eligibility tests, are now cleared to compete in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics.
Algerian amateur boxer Imane Khelif faced disqualification just hours before her gold medal match at the women’s World Championships in New Delhi last year, having failed a testosterone (Hyperandrogenism) level test mandated by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Similarly, Taiwan’s double world champion, Lin Yu Ting, was stripped of her bronze medal at the same event due to gender eligibility issues.
During that period, IBA president Umar Kremlev revealed that the boxers had “XY chromosomes.” The World Championships, organized by the IBA — a federation now stripped of IOC recognition — highlighted the ongoing controversy over qualification standards.
IOC Verifies Boxers’ Compliance With Competition Eligibility Rules
The IOC recently issued an official statement declaring that all athletes competing in the boxing tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games unequivocally meet the competition’s stringent eligibility and entry criteria.
Furthermore, these athletes meet all applicable medical regulations, ensuring a fair and standardized contest in alignment with international standards.
“All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations in accordance with rules 1.4 and 3.1 of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.
“The PBU endeavored to restrict amendments to minimize the impact on athletes’ preparation and guaranteeing consistency between Olympic Games.”
Section 3.1 of these regulations mandates that all boxers must present a medical certificate, duly stamped and signed by an authorized medical professional, issued within the past three months.
Following the IOC’s clarification, Khelif is set to compete against Italy’s Angela Carini in a welterweight bout on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lin will face either Marcelat Sakobi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Sitora Turdibekova from Uzbekistan in the featherweight division on Friday.
The situation appears reminiscent of the controversy surrounding middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was made to undergo sex testing following her victory at the 2009 World Championships.
The South African was cleared to return the following year, with reports later revealing that Semenya has the intersex condition 5α-Reductase 2 deficiency, which results in her natural testosterone levels sitting in the average male range.
The 33-year-old has been unable to participate since new World Athletics rules in 2019 prevented athletes with certain sex development disorders from competing in 400m, 800m, and 1500m events in the female classification unless they take medication to reduce testosterone.
