Italy's Angela Carini said Thursday
that she abandoned her controversial women's boxing match at the
2024 Paris Olympics against Imane Khelif because she could tell
after one punch that she was outpowered.
Her Algerian opponent was disqualified from last year's women's
boxing world championships for failing gender-eligibility tests.
"I got into the ring to fight," said the 25-year-old from
Naples.
"I didn't give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said
enough.
"I'm going out with my head held high," she added.
Coach Emanuele Renzini stressed that quitting the match was not
planned in advance.
"It would have been easier not to show up, because all of Italy
had been asking her not to fight for days," Renzini said.
"But Angela was motivated and wanted to do it.
"Of course when she met her opponent at the draw, she said 'it's
not fair'.
"But there was no premeditation here today
"She quit after taking one punch, she told me she didn't feel
she could fight.
"I tried to tell her to at least get to the end of the first
round so we would fight, but she wouldn't".
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