Holyfield's disqualification at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ikrasevic, Aug 4, 2026.


  1. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield competed as a light-heavyweight at the 1984 Olympics, winning a controversial bronze medal. In the semi-finals he was competing against New Zealander Kevin Barry, and was controlling the fight. Near the end of the second round, Holyfield hammered Barry’s ribs with a right, and then unloaded with a left hook that floored Barry. The official, a Yugoslav named Gligorije Novičić, waved Holyfield to a neutral corner and then counted out Barry. He then turned to Holyfield and disqualified him for a purported late hit, saying he had told him to break prior to the left hook. Films did seem to confirm this, but even Barry told Holyfield that “You won the fight fair and square.” The pro-American crowd went crazy, and Novičić had to receive a police escort to exit the arena. Barry had won, but could not fight in the finals because he had been knocked out and amateur rules prohibited a knocked out boxer from fighting for 28 days.
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    Under IABA health regulation Barry was not allowed to box for 28 days, so he was scratched from the final, giving Yugoslav boxer Anton Josipović the uncontested gold medal. During the medal ceremony, Josipović pulled bronze medalist Holyfield onto the highest step of the podium and raised his hand, acknowledging that Holyfield deserved to compete in the final.
    P.S. So, the Yugoslav referee disqualified Holyfield, and the Yugoslav won the gold medal.:)
    P.S.S. I was then living in Yugoslavia, a state that fell apart
     
  2. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Here's my question. Why would the ref count out Barry and then disqualify Holyfield? Why not just disqualify him? That single move is what caused so much confusion.
     
  3. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

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    I don't have the answers to those questions. I'm just pointing out that something really stinks about Holyfield's disqualification.
     
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  4. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I remember watching the Holyfield-Barry fight late in the evening during the 84 Olympics.

    I also appreciate that Kevin Barry made a name for himself after the Olympics with David Tua.

    Still, every time I saw Barry interviewed or working in the corner during a David Tua fight, I thought of that Holyfield fight. ;)
     
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  5. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Indirectly, this is what destroyed Yugoslavia.
     
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  6. slash

    slash Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hmm.. I wonder how a Holyfield-Jocopovic' fight would have gone.

    garbage. says stop in the middle of a Holyfield combination.

    Holyfield, the hard luck champion.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2026
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  7. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

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    Holyfield would win. But Anton Josipović would also beat Barry.
    Josipović is the best in the Olympic LHW tournament after Holyfield.
     
  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think the reasoning is if Barry beats the count, Holy only gets a point deduction.

    If he does not, rules prohibit a fighter winning on a foul so DQ since a count-out KO in this case would be a win on a foul.

    I don’t know if that’s the correct call on this fight or not based on international amateur boxing rules — as in whether the ref got it right by rulebook or not — but I think that’s the explanation of why the ref took that action.
     
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  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    Barry also trained Joseph Parker for a number of years.
     
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  10. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    ...He may have trained him some...but I'm the one who got that coke ban lifted.
     
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  11. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's makes perfect sense. Thank you.
     
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