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Olympic champion Imane Khelif to make professional boxing debut in December

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Algerian gold medalist will face Clarida Sarabia in a super-welterweight contest scheduled for December 15 in Paris. The fight marks her first ring appearance since her Olympic victory, following a postponed April comeback caused by a training injury. Backed by promoter Yacin Berrabah and a professional license from France's boxing federation, her team believes she can secure a world championship within three to five bouts.

Key points

  • The Algerian fighter is launching her professional career under the sanctioning of France…: The Algerian fighter is launching her professional career under the sanctioning of France's official boxing federation.
  • Her training team aims to fast-track her development toward competing for a world title i…: Her training team aims to fast-track her development toward competing for a world title in five fights or fewer.
  • This debut represents her first competitive appearance since navigating a high-profile ge…: This debut represents her first competitive appearance since navigating a high-profile gender controversy at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The Algerian has not fought since winning gold at Paris 2024, where she was embroiled in a gender row.

Olympic champion Imane Khelif has announced she will make her professional boxing debut next month in Paris, her first appearance in the ring since winning welterweight gold in the French capital in 2024.

Algeria’s Khelif, who found herself in the middle of a major gender row at the 2024 Olympics, holds a pro licence from France’s boxing federation and was forced to postpone her return to action in April after suffering a training injury.

The 27-year-old said during a news conference on Friday alongside her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah that she will take on Clarida Sarabia in the super-welterweight class on December 15.

“It’s been over two years since I last boxed, and I’ve really missed being in the ring,” said Khelif.

“The last couple of years have been quite difficult. The time has come to turn professional, and I’m going to give it my all.”

Abdesselam is confident that Khelif could win a world title “within three…

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