Olympic champion Imane Khelif has officially announced that she will make her professional boxing debut next month in Paris, marking her first appearance in the ring since claiming the welterweight gold medal in the French capital during the 2024 Games. The Algerian athlete, who holds a professional license issued by the French boxing federation, was previously forced to postpone her anticipated return to action in April following a training injury.
Key Takeaways: 27-year-old Imane Khelif is scheduled to face Clarida Sarabia in the super-welterweight division on December 15 in Paris. Having been away from competitive bouts for over two years, the fighter stated she is fully committed to making a successful transition to the professional ranks.
Khelif's career has been heavily overshadowed by intense public scrutiny and controversy. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, she found herself at the epicenter of a major gender eligibility row. Born female, Khelif naturally carries the SRY gene located on the Y chromosome, which is typically associated with male biological characteristics. Furthermore, in a February interview with the French sports daily L’Equipe, she revealed that she had undergone hormonal treatment to lower her testosterone levels ahead of the Olympic tournament.
Speaking at a press conference alongside her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah, Khelif expressed her eagerness to return. Coach Abdesselam voiced supreme confidence in her abilities, asserting that she could potentially capture a world title within three to five fights and even drawing comparisons between her and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
This upcoming professional debut represents a pivotal turning point in Khelif's athletic journey. As she prepares to step back under the bright lights of Paris, the global sports community remains divided over the ongoing regulatory and ethical debates surrounding her participation.
Source: www.aljazeera.com