Listing just a few notable Olympic gold medallists who went on to become world champions
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are currently taking place, an international multi-sport event that began on July 26 and will end on August 11.
Today we will remember some of the great boxing champions who before winning the world title, triumphed at the Olympic Games by winning a medal.
All of them were protagonists of epic fights, broke records, created glory, were imitated, revered, became millionaires and boxing icons.
Muhammad Ali – In his amateur stage he became Olympic champion at the Rome 60 Games, when he was 18 years old. At the aforementioned Rome Games he was booed by the public, but the panorama changed when he knocked out the Polish Pietrzykowski. With this Olympic gold, Cassius Clay ended his amateur phase and began a successful career in the professional world that would lead him to be recognized as one of the best in history.
Joe Frazier – ‘Smokin’ Joe’ became Ali’s successor to the Olympic throne, winning the 1964 Tokyo Games. He would also later become world heavyweight champion. Against Muhammad Ali, he starred in what was called the “Fight of the Century” in 1971. Frazier reached the Olympic final injured, with a finger on his left hand broken in the semi-final, but the American said nothing and faced the final without wanting to show any sign of weakness.
George Foreman – He became world heavyweight champion twice and was champion at the 1968 Mexico Games. He dominated all his rivals with great power. The following year Foreman would go into the professional field. Among his most epic fights, he faced Ali in Kinshasa in 1974.
Sugar Ray Leonard – He was Olympic champion in Montreal 76, with a great amateur career of 145 victories and only five defeats. During his professional stage he would win world titles in five categories. As a curious fact, Sugar Ray participated in all his Olympic fights in Montreal with photos of his wife and son on his socks.
Evander Holyfield – Although he did not get the Olympic gold due to controversial decisions by the judges, he did a great job in Los Angeles 84, winning a bronze medal. His brilliant career as a professional is inspiring.
Oscar De La Hoya – In Barcelona 92 he fulfilled his Mother’s dream by becoming an Olympic champion. This earned him the nickname “Golden Boy”. He later turned professional, winning multiple world titles in 6 divisions. He is currently a successful promoter.
James DeGale – ‘Chunky’ became one of British boxing’s most significant champions in history when he won gold at the Beijing 2008 Games, then the IBF World super-middleweight title against Andre Dirrell in 2015.
He is the first British boxer in history to ever become and Olympic and World champion.
Claressa Shields – The Flint fighter has gone on to become one of the greatest fighters in history. Shields won gold medals in the middleweight division at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals.
She has also been a champion at middleweight and super middleweight, showing her great quality and superiority in each of these divisions. As if that weren’t enough, a few days ago she won the WBC heavyweight title by stunningly knocking out her rival in two rounds.
Anthony Joshua – Not only did AJ reach the pinnacle of amateur boxing with his London 2012 Olympics gold medal, he also climbed to the summit as a pro by claiming the IBF World heavyweight title from Charles Martin in 2016.
But that’s not all, because Joshua has been the poster boy for British boxing ever since his crowning glory in the 2012 summer games. He has flown the flag for heavyweight boxing for over 10 years, becoming the biggest sports star in the world.
Losses to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk saw his stock drop temporarily, but it’s now back up with four straight wins and the chance to become a three-time world champion in September, which will see him on top of the world once again, if successful against Daniel Dubois.