10 Best 2024 Olympic Boxers To Watch In Paris
Boxing has been an Olympic sport for over a century, but the 2024 Paris Games could sadly be its final competition.
The International Olympic Committee recently cut ties with the sport’s former governing body and declared boxing could be dropped altogether before the next Los Angeles event in four years.
A breakaway organisation is now fighting to save that potentially disastrous blow for amateur boxing.
But there is still plenty to look forward to in the ring this summer, with 248 total fighters from around the world on show.
Here, BOXRAW outline the 10 best 2024 Olympic boxers to watch out for in France and those who could become future stars on the professional scene.
Cindy Ngamba (Team Refugee)
The Paris Games line-up features the most women’s boxers in Olympic history with a record six weight classes now involved.
One stand-out talent to watch among those divisions is Cindy Ngamba, who will be making further history as the first boxer ever to represent Team Refugee at the Olympics.
Originally from Cameroon, Ngamba moved to England at the age of 11 and has been training with Team GB but is unable to compete for them due to British passport issues.
She is already a three-weight national champion (the first woman to achieve this since Natasha Jonas), boxing out of Halliwell ABC at Elite Boxing Gym in Bolton, Manchester, and has her sights set on a medal victory to round off her inspirational story so far.
Ngamba will also be the first boxer from Bolton to compete at the Olympics since Amir Khan, who famously became Britain’s youngest medalist ever by claiming Silver at the 2004 Games in Athens.
Jahmal Harvey (Team USA)
America has won the most total medals and Gold medals in Olympic history, with some of the most iconic names ever having graced the podium, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard.
This summer, Team USA will have eight qualified representatives in the tournament, with many hopes of another medal triumph falling on the young shoulders of rising star Jahmal Harvey.
The 21-year-old will be aiming to secure a successful summer in the featherweight division, with his slick but aggressive switch-hitting style in the ring making him one of the brightest stars to follow.
America’s last Gold medalist was Andre Ward back in 2004. Harvey will be confident of going all the way and finally ending his nation’s two-decade wait for another top-of-the-podium finish in Paris.
Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan)
Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov is the defending super-heavyweight Olympic champion after rallying to Gold success back in 2020.
The 30-year-old's inclusion has continued to cause controversy due to the now three-time Olympian already being a professional with a record of 14-0 and is promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank.
Since the 2016 Games, pro fighters have been permitted to enter some events which traditionally belonged to solely amateurs, which has led to constant arguments over safety.
Jalolov was scheduled to fight as a pro back in April but opted to cancel those plans to concentrate on attempting to retain his Olympic Gold medal this summer instead.
Sofiane Oumiha (France)
Another medal prospect for the host nation is the experienced Sofiane Oumiha, as he prepares to make his third career appearance at the Olympics at 29 years old.
The Toulouse-native brings plenty of accolades to the French squad but most notably sealed a Silver medal back in 2016 at the Rio Games.
Oumiha made his professional debut back in 2022 and has since racked up a 5-0 record with three knockouts as a lightweight, ahead of his switch back to the amateur game for another shot at Olympic success.
Kellie Harrington (Ireland)
Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, with 18 of their 38 medals being achieved in the squared-circle.
One of those medalists returning to the Olympic ring is reigning 60kg champion, Kellie Harrington, who climbed to top of the podium in Tokyo three years ago.
The Dubliner was met with a backlash last year from a past Tweet relating to immigration views, but she will look to defend her crown in Paris and put previous out-of-ring troubles behind her.
Delicious Orie (Team GB)
One man standing in the way of super-heavyweight favourite Bakhodir Jalolov’s run to defending his Gold in Paris is Team GB’s Delicious Orie.
The latest GB hope in the heaviest division will aim to follow in the footsteps of past stars such as Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce and Frazer Clarke to claim a medal in Paris.
A solid technical fighter with brilliant fundamentals, Orie has already drawn early comparisons to ‘AJ’ as he attempts to enjoy a strong summer on the big stage.
Charlie Senior (Australia)
One of Australia’s key hopes of podium success this summer is Charlie Senior, as he gets ready for his debut at the Olympics at 22 years old.
Originally born in the Yorkshire city of Bradford, England, Senior moved Down Under with his family at just two years old.
He will be part of Australia’s biggest ever Olympic boxing team, which features a 12-person squad, and has been a recent stand-out in lead-up competitions.
Waseem Abu Sal (Palestine)
Waseem Abu Sal will write himself into the history books this summer as he becomes the first Palestinian boxer ever to compete in the Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old has overcome his formidable everyday struggles and sacrifices to earn a special wildcard spot at the Games.
A Gazan who cannot travel to the occupied West Bank, he has been receiving training instructions every morning from his coach, Ahmad Harara, who is based in Cairo, Egypt.
As his home continues to be destroyed by oppressors, Abu Sal wants to become a beacon of hope for Palestine this summer and win a historic medal.
Julio Cesar La Cruz (Cuba)
Already a legend of amateur boxing, Cuba’s five-time world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz is seeking to add to his legacy this summer in Paris.
Part of a small national squad traveling to the Games, he is aiming to incredibly win a third consecutive Gold medal after victories at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
In doing so, La Cruz would join Hungary’s Laszlo Papp and fellow Cubans Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon as the only three-time Olympic boxing champions in history. Notably, his teammate, Arlen Lopez, can also achieve that monumental feat this summer.
Eumir Marcial (Philippines)
Returning to try and improve the colour of his medal, Eumir Marcial is a former Bronze victor from 2020 but seeks a Gold this summer.
Representing his home of the Philippines, the middleweight southpaw also won Silver at the 2019 World Championships.
The 28-year-old is another one of the professional fighters who will compete at the Games this summer, having already gone 5-0 with three knockouts so far since his debut back in 2020.
Key Dates
Boxing begins on Saturday, July 27th and will conclude on Saturday, August 10th, one day before the closing ceremony.
The final five days of competition and Gold medal bouts will be held at Roland Garros, the famous tennis venue.