Boxing at Paris 2024 (Les Jeux de la XXXIII Olympiade)

Kellie's a great shout.

As for the men, you could make a case for three of the Uzbeks (Dusmatov, Jalolov despite underperforming by his standards, and Mullojonov) - as well as for the rock-solid consistent machine that is Khyzhniak. He's on a hell of a run of form stretching all the way back to his last defeat in Tokyo, and has perhaps the biggest single coup of these Games in López. He also dominated Pereira bell to bell, no mean feat.

 

Btw, in case anybody is curious about tracking how the pros are doing - here are those who remain along with their professional boxing records:

Bakhodir Jalolov - southpaw, heavyweight, 14-0 (14)
Abdumalik Khalokov - orthodox, super feather, 1-0 (1)
Hasanboy Marfjon Ugli Dusmatov - southpaw, minimumweight, 6-0 (5)
Lazizbek Hasanjon Ugli Mullojonov - southpaw, heavyweight, 4-0 (4)
Sofiane Oumiha - orthodox, lightweight, 5-0 (3)
Erislandy Álvarez Borges - orthodox, light welterweight, 3-0 (1)
Imane Khelif - orthodox, welterweight, 1-0 (1)

Just seven of thirty-eight athletes left competing this week.

All undefeated in the paid ranks.

4/7 of the pros that made it past the prelims and quarterfinals hail from Uzbekistan.

 

No need to get defensive, kid.

I don't understand how bright pink and blue didn't register, but okay.

As for segregated-by-gender tables...maaan, I had just made the post before that one delineating the full week's schedule. Not a quick labor. I threw that together ASAP as my fingers were starting to cramp. Cut me some slack.

 

The presence of three Frenchies at this stage - the second most in the men's divisions behind Uzbekistan - is highly soupçonnable.

 

I'm going to say it now, if Bennama defeats Dusmatov or Oumiha beats Álvarez - then there's something rotten in the state of Île-de-France.

Zero chance of either result happening cleanly.

Moindze triumphing over Ghadfa isn't unthinkable - but Jalolov?

France has no business taking any gold.

 

Today's lineup, starting 5.5 hours from now, my picks underlined:

• TUESDAY - starting at 2030 local time in Paris (3:30pm EST)
  
  Men's 71kg Semifinals #1: Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (UZB) vs. Omari Jones (USA)
  
  Men's 71kg Semifinals #2: Marco Alonso Verde Álvarez (MEX) vs. Lewis Richardson (GBR)
  
  Women's 50kg Semifinals #1: Yu Wu (CHN) vs. Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ)
  
  Women's 50kg Semifinals #2: Aira Villegas (PHI) vs. Buse Naz Çakıroğlu (TUR)
  
  Women's 66kg Semifinals #1: Janjaem Suwannapheng (THA) vs. Imane Khelif (ALG)
  
  Women's 66kg Semifinals #2: Liu Yang (CHN) vs. Nien Chin Cheng (TPE)
  
  Women's 60kg FINALS: Wenlu Yang (CHN) vs. Kellie Harrington (IRL)

I'd be thrilled if Omari Jones proved me wrong, because he's Team USA's last hope in the sport this year (fittingly, Team GB's own last hope will box directly afterward in the other 71kg semifinal - it would be wonderful to have a Yank vs. a Brit for the gold) but idk... Muydinkhujaev has defeated much better opposition (including a victory over Roniel Iglesias!) and is from that well-heeled school of Uzbek southpaws. He also has barely ever lost - with most of his defeats of record coming by Walkover.

The heavy-handed Verde is no slouch but Richardson has 2½″ on his Mexican fellow southpaw and is the classier boxer, and has been in excellent form.

Wu's alright but Kyzaibay's just too damn good.

WAR VILLEGAS! (Çakıroğlu is a tough out though)

I heavily favor Khelif, as she already has a victory over the Siamese gal (overturned into a NC) on top of which she's 3" taller and has an edge in experience.

Cheng is very skillful but Yang will be like looking in a mirror at a taller and better version of herself.

Harrington is probably the most talented female competing.

 

If my hunches about the semis prove correct - all three of those championship matches (Men's 71kg, Women's 50kg and Women's 66kg) are going to prove insanely hard to pick a winner.

Muydinkhujaev vs. Richardson, Kyzaibay vs. Villegas, and Khelif vs. Yang are all absolute pick'ems on paper. The only pairing that has met before is Kyzaibay and Villegas, with the Filipina taking a SD over the Kazakh in an international tournament this past February.

 

Alright, now for my sentimental picks - above were the ones I think are going to win, and below are my "wants":

Jones over Muydinkhujaev
Richardson over Verde
Kyzaibay over Wu
Villegas over Çakıroğlu
Khelif over Suwannapheng (suck it, troglodytes )
Cheng over L. Yang
Harrington over W. Yang

Basically head and heart sync up, except for Jones and Cheng springing the upsets.

 

We're live!

 

Interesting, that's one I consider a lock.

 

Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (UZB) vs. Omari Jones (USA), Men's 71kg Semifinals #1