Boxer Roy Jones Jr. receives the 1988 Olympic gold medal from the competitor who controversially defeated him in the finals.
In a historic moment, South Korean boxer Park Si-hun returned the light middleweight gold medal he won at the 1988 Olympics to Roy Jones Jr., his American opponent in the iconic bout.
The event took place at Roy Jones Jr.'s gym on May 30, 2023, where Park Si-hun travelled from South Korea to present the medal to Jones. The news of the medal's transfer was revealed in a video posted on Roy Jones Jr.'s YouTube page.
Park Si-hun's son translated his father's words during the event. Park expressed his desire to give the gold medal back to Roy Jones Jr., stating that it belonged to him. This gesture came after Jones seemed to have earned the gold medal in a boxing match most observers outside of the judges believed he dominated.
Despite not winning the gold medal, Roy Jones Jr. was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for the best boxer in the 1988 Olympics. Jones went on to win titles in four weight classes from middleweight to heavyweight and had a professional record of 66-9.
Park Si-hun won the bout with a 3-2 decision over Jones. However, allegations of bribery against the judges who voted in favor of Park Si-hun surfaced in 1996. The US Olympic Committee called for an investigation due to reports of judges being paid to vote for South Korean boxers. Nevertheless, the International Olympic Committee concluded in 1997 that there was no evidence to support these allegations.
After the Olympics, Park Si-hun retired from boxing and later became a coach. He was trained by coaches in South Korea and after retiring as a boxer, he became a coach for the South Korean boxing team himself. The moment of the medal's transfer was particularly poignant, as Park Si-hun lifted Roy Jones Jr. into the air in the ring, a repeat of their historic bout, this time in a spirit of reconciliation.
Roy Jones Jr. seemed to be there for an on-camera interview, but instead found Park Si-hun in the ring with both fighters' families present. The event marked a significant moment in the history of boxing, symbolising sportsmanship and the power of reconciliation.
