Angela Carini vs Imane Khelif Full Fight Video: In a highly controversial bout at the Paris Olympics, Italian boxer Angela Carini broke down in tears after abandoning her match against Algerian opponent Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the fight. The incident has sparked significant debate within the boxing community and beyond.
The bout at North Paris Arena was anticipated to be intense, given the controversial background of Khelif, who was previously in the spotlight for failing a gender eligibility test at a tournament last year. Despite being disqualified from the women’s world championships for the same reason, Khelif was permitted to compete in the Olympics. She had progressed to the welterweight quarter-finals and is set to face either Hungarian Luca Anna Hamori or Australia’s Marissa Williamson next.
Carini entered the ring with the intention of honoring her late father. However, the match took a dramatic turn when Khelif’s powerful punches quickly dislodged Carini’s chinstrap, followed by another punch that caused significant pain and bloodied her shorts. Carini returned to her corner, raised her hand, and then fell to her knees, sobbing, ultimately refusing to shake Khelif’s hand.
“I am heartbroken,” Carini expressed in a post-match interview. “I went to the ring to honor my father. I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior, but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this.”
Carini, 25, from Naples, further explained her decision: “I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt too much, so I said enough. After years of experience, I felt a strong pain in my nose. I said enough because I didn’t want to risk further injury.”
Despite the pain and the abrupt end to her match, Carini maintained her dignity: “It’s not a defeat for me. If you go in the ring, you have already won, regardless of everything else. I just did my job. I managed to leave with my head held high.”
The controversy surrounding Khelif’s participation was not lost on Carini, but she refrained from passing judgment: “It’s not up to me to say if it’s fair or not. I just did my job.”
Imane Khelif, on the other hand, remained focused on her goal: “I am here for gold. I will fight anybody, I will fight them all,” she told the BBC.
The match has drawn reactions from various quarters. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, tweeted, “Angela Carini rightly followed her instincts and prioritised her physical safety, but she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their gender.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also commented, stating, “I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions … from my point of view it was not an even contest.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced criticism for allowing Khelif and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan to compete in the women’s category. Both boxers were disqualified from the world championships last year due to failing gender eligibility tests. Despite this, the IOC confirmed that both athletes had “complied” with its entry regulations and had been competing in women’s boxing for many years based on their passports.
The IOC accused the International Boxing Association (IBA) of arbitrarily changing its gender rules during the 2023 world championships, which led to the disqualification of the athletes. This decision has been labeled as contrary to good governance by the IOC.
The boxing community remains divided. Australian boxing captain Caitlin Parker expressed her concerns: “I don’t agree with them being allowed to compete in sport, especially combat sports. It can be incredibly dangerous.”
Khelif, feeling targeted, claimed to be the victim of a “big conspiracy” following her disqualification before the final at last year’s world championships. The Algerian Olympic Committee condemned the attacks on Khelif’s character, calling them “deeply unfair.”
As the controversy continues, Khelif prepares for her next bout with a determined mindset. Hungarian boxer Luca Anna Hamori, who is due to face Khelif, stated confidently, “I will go to the ring and I will get my win. I trust my coaches and I trust myself.”
The debate over gender eligibility in sports, especially in combat sports like boxing, remains a contentious issue, highlighting the need for clear and consistent regulations to ensure fair and safe competition for all athletes.
Angela Carini vs Imane Khelif Full Fight Video
The full fight between a male vs. a female at the Paris Olympics.
As expected, Imane Khelif from Algeria beat Angela Carini from Italy in 46 seconds in Olympic Boxing this morning.#IStandWithAngelaCarini#SaveWomensSports
📽 @BigBillMoon pic.twitter.com/y5PCDGnRBt— sonofabench (@therealmrbench) August 1, 2024
Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024