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
Stephen Bunting calls death threats and social media abuse ‘very hurtful’ as he addresses Luke Littler’s rise
Definitely," Stephen Bunting says, reflecting on whether the relentless effort required as a darts player on social media feels like a deal with the devil. Following Luke Littler, the prodigious teenage world champion, Bunting is darts' most heavily marketed figure. Yet over the past year, his success on
Bernie Ecclestone questioned after shotgun discovered on his private jet in Portugal
Bernie Ecclestone was detained in Portugal on Monday after customs authorities found an undocumented shotgun in his possession at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais. The incident was confirmed by CuriosityNews, which independently verified the matter with authorities.
The 95-year-old former Formula One chief’s private jet had just landed
49ers preseason: fake wide receivers and undercover stings make it the wildest ever?
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Australia for this week's NFL season opener in Melbourne. While the flight duration from California to Victoria is approximately 16 hours for both squads, their paths to the season's beginning have been starkly contrasting.
The