Roy Jones Jr Receives Olympic Gold Medal Decades After Controversial Loss
Roy Jones Jr has been given the Olympic gold medal he was denied in 1988, an unexpected gesture from the South Korean fighter who originally won the bout.
The boxing legend shared a video from two years ago in which Park Si-hun visited Jones at his ranch in Pensacola, Florida, to hand over the light middleweight gold medal.
“I had the gold medal, but I want to return it to you. It should be yours,” Park said in the video, with his son translating.
Jones, visibly moved by the act, hid his face briefly before responding, “Wow, that is unbelievable.”
Their bout at the Seoul Olympics remains one of boxing’s most disputed moments, as Jones seemed to control the fight but lost to Park in a 3-2 decision that sparked immediate outrage and long-standing debate.
Despite the loss, Jones was awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the best boxer of the 1988 Olympics. He later became a world champion in four weight divisions and is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in history.
“In 1988, I was denied the gold medal in what is still one of boxing’s most talked-about decisions,” Jones wrote in his post.
“A few years ago, the man who received that medal came to my home from South Korea to return it, believing it was rightfully mine. I hope you appreciate this moment as much as I did.”
Read next
"Fluffed Up: How Modern Tennis Balls Lead to Frustration and Injury"
Daniil Medvedev quickly realized he was in a difficult position at Roland Garros. Facing Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the opening round, he struggled to find his rhythm.
With his chances of progressing in one of the sport’s most prestigious events slipping away, the 29-year-old decided on an unusual
Manchester bids heartfelt farewell to beloved boxer Ricky 'the people's champion' Hatton
Thousands Gather in Manchester to Honor Ricky Hatton, Former World Champion Boxer
A large crowd filled the streets of Manchester on Friday to celebrate the life of Ricky Hatton, the former world champion boxer who passed away last month at the age of 46.
Hatton was widely admired in the
Heightened security and political strain loom over crucial Norway vs. Israel World Cup match
This will be the most heavily secured sports event in Norway since the 1994 Winter Olympics. Strict security measures are in place across Oslo, with a no-fly zone enforced over Ullevål Stadium. Amid the heightened precautions, it might be easy to overlook that Norway’s national team is close to