The sports community and social media were in uproar after Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned her welterweight round of 16 bout against Algeria’s Imane Khelif after 46 seconds on Thursday, August 1, at the Paris Olympics.
Carini stated that she does not see the bout’s outcome as a loss, with many speculating that the decision was influenced by Khelif’s previous disqualification due to failing a gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships.
The controversy deepened when Carini, after a brief 30-second discussion with her coach, returned to the ring only to refuse to continue the fight against Khelif. Carini mentioned that Khelif’s punches were the hardest she had ever experienced, noting that a punch early in the bout dislodged her chinstrap and caused her to bleed, with blood staining her shorts. Ultimately, Carini sat in the center of the ring in tears after declaring her forfeiture.
Khelif, who won a silver medal at the 2022 World Championship, had been disqualified hours before her gold medal bout in New Delhi, India last year for not meeting the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility criteria. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) overturned the IBA’s decision, allowing Khelif to participate in the Paris Olympics.
Carini’s withdrawal from the bout after just 40 seconds was attributed to an apparent nose injury, though her decision has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Below are some videos:
Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
A couple of punches to the head and it’s all over. /2 pic.twitter.com/6egSrRj51s
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
“None giusto!”.
“it’s not fair!” Says Angela /6 pic.twitter.com/ukqReaRHbP— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
Angela Carini’s Olympic dreams smashed today. She breaks down in tears. /7 pic.twitter.com/CBNK2pNFo4
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
WWE SmackDown’s United States Champion Logan Paul tweeted the following about this situation:
“This is the purest form of evil unfolding right before your eyes.
A man was allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage, crushing her life’s dream while fighting for her deceased father.
This delusion must end.”
MUST SEE: Logan Paul’s Fiancée Without Clothes:
