Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics

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Boxing
at the Games of the XXIII Olympiad
Boxing pictogram.svg
Dates29 July-11 August 1984
Competitors354 from 81 nations
  1980
1988  

Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics took place in the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California, United States. The boxing schedule began on July 29 and ended on August 11. Twelve boxing events were contested with the participation of 354 fighters from 81 countries. [1] A Soviet-led boycott resulted in the withdrawals of the Soviet Union, Cuba, East Germany, Bulgaria and other Eastern Bloc nations from boxing competitions.

At the 1980 Summer Olympics, that was impacted by an American-led boycott, Cuban boxers won 10 medals, with 6 of them being gold, and had again been expected to do well. [2] However, the nation withdrew from the games following the announcement of the Soviet boycott. [3] Teófilo Stevenson, who was going to try for his fourth Olympic gold medal before the boycott was officially announced, [2] had previously defeated Tyrell Biggs twice (one by knockout) and Hermenegildo Báez had previously defeated Henry Tillman. Soviet Alexander Yagubkin defeated both Biggs and Tillman during the USA–USSR duals. Cuban and Soviet boxers, however, were more seasoned than their American counterparts. [4] While US athletes typically turned pro after the Olympics, while still in their early twenties, Cubans and the Soviets were not allowed to do so and stayed on in the amateurs, participating in multiple Olympic cycles. [5]

Evander Holyfield was controversially disqualified in the Light heavyweight semifinals for punching New Zealand boxer Kevin Barry after what seemed to be a stop. However, replay shows that the referee stopped the bout after his punches. [6] [7] Under IABA health regulation Barry was not allowed to box for 28 days, so he was scratched from the final, giving Yugoslav boxer Anton Josipović the uncontested gold medal. [7] During the medal ceremony, Josipović pulled bronze medalist Holyfield onto the highest step of the podium and raised his hand, acknowledging that Holyfield deserved to compete in the final. [8]

Due to the increasing size of heavyweight boxers (which put lighter heavyweights at a disadvantage), the Heavyweight division was split in two. The boxers above 200 pounds, were placed in the newly created Super Heavyweight division.

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)*91111
2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1225
3Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia  (YUG)1124
4Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea  (KOR)1113
5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0213
6Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico  (PUR)0112
7Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)0101
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)0101
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR)0101
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand  (THA)0101
11Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria  (ALG)0022
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey  (TUR)0022
Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela  (VEN)0022
14Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon  (CMR)0011
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)0011
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0011
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0011
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0011
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)0011
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)0011
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania  (ROU)0011
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)0011
Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia  (ZAM)0011
Totals (23 entries)12122448

Medal summary

EventGoldSilverBronze
Light flyweight (–48 kg)
details
Paul Gonzales
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Salvatore Todisco
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Marcelino Bolivar
Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela
Keith Mwila
Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia
Flyweight (–51 kg)
details
Steve McCrory
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Redžep Redžepovski
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia
Eyüp Can
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Ibrahim Bilali
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Bantamweight (–54 kg)
details
Maurizio Stecca
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Héctor López
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Dale Walters
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Pedro Nolasco
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Featherweight (–57 kg)
details
Meldrick Taylor
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Peter Konyegwachie
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Omar Catarí
Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela
Turgut Aykaç
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Lightweight (–60 kg)
details
Pernell Whitaker
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Luis Ortiz
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
Chun Chil-Sung
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea
Martin Ndongo-Ebanga
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Light welterweight (–63 kg)
details
Jerry Page
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Dhawee Umponmaha
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Mircea Fulger
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania
Mirko Puzović
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia
Welterweight (–67 kg)
details
Mark Breland
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
An Young-Su
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea
Joni Nyman
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Luciano Bruno
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Light middleweight (–71 kg)
details
Frank Tate
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Shawn O'Sullivan
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Christophe Tiozzo
Flag of France.svg  France
Manfred Zielonka
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Middleweight (–75 kg)
details
Shin Joon-Sup
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea
Virgil Hill
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Aristides González
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico
Mohamed Zaoui
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Light heavyweight (–81 kg)
details
Anton Josipović
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia
Kevin Barry
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Evander Holyfield
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Mustapha Moussa
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Heavyweight (–91 kg)
details
Henry Tillman
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Willie DeWit
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Angelo Musone
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Arnold Vanderlyde
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Super heavyweight (+ 91 kg)
details
Tyrell Biggs
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Francesco Damiani
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Robert Wells
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Aziz Salihu
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia

See also

References

  1. "Boxing at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 Cuba Withdraws From Olympic by the Associated Press, The New York Times, May 24, 1984.
  3. Alfano, Peter. Boxing: Americans Rated Above '76 Unit, The New York Times, July 29, 1984.
  4. "Barry McGuigan explains Cuban boxing success". BBC Sport.
  5. New Olympic Sanctions, The New York Times, December 5, 1984.
  6. "25 Years Later: Evander Holyfield Robbed of Gold in the 1984 Olympics". Bleacher Report . 21 July 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 AP (12 August 1984). "Holyfield loses appeal, but gains bronze". Boca Raton News. p. 4D. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  8. "25 Years Later: Evander Holyfield Robbed of Gold in the 1984 Olympics". Bleacher Report . 21 July 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2018.