Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Men's boxing event in Athens, featuring future world champions.
The 2004 Summer Olympics boxing competition was held in the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall, located in the western Athens suburb of Peristeri. Only male athletes participated, with each bout consisting of four two-minute rounds. Five judges provided live scoring, and the boxer with the highest total at the conclusion was declared the winner. Three days before the opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee disqualified Kenyan boxer David Munyasia after he tested positive for cathine.
Several medalists from these Games—including Amir Khan, Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Guillermo Rigondeaux—eventually became professional world champions. However, boxers from Cuba and Russia typically do not turn professional, as their governments provide substantial funding that allows them to retain amateur status and compete in multiple Olympic tournaments. The event also marked Mario Kindelán’s final Olympic appearance; he won his second consecutive lightweight gold medal by defeating Amir Khan.
A pre-Olympic test event, the 25th Acropolis Cup, was held from 26 to 30 May 2004 at the same venue in Peristeri. Qualification for the Olympics was determined through a series of tournaments across different regions: Africa (the All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, and qualification tournaments in Casablanca, Morocco, and Gaborone, Botswana); the Americas (the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and qualification tournaments in Tijuana, Mexico, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); Asia (the Asian Championships in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, and qualification tournaments in Guangzhou, China, and Karachi, Pakistan); Europe (the European Championships in Pula, Croatia, and qualification tournaments in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Warsaw, Poland, Gothenburg, Sweden, and Baku, Azerbaijan); and Oceania (a qualification tournament in Tonga).
Quick Facts
- Event
- Boxing
- Games
- 2004 Summer
- Venue
- Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall
- Dates
- 14 – 29 August 2004
- Competitors
- 280
- Nations
- 72
- Prev
- 2000
- Next
- 2008
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The tournament was held in the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall, which also hosted the pre-Olympic test event known as the 25th Acropolis Cup from 26 to 30 May 2004. Qualification tournaments were held across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, including events such as the All-Africa Games, Pan American Games, Asian Championships, and European Championships. Several medalists later became world champions in professional boxing, including Amir Khan, Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Guillermo Rigondeaux. However, Cuban and Russian boxers typically do not turn professional because their governments provide extensive funding, allowing them to keep amateur status and compete at multiple Olympics.
Reader's Guide
Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics is notable for its venue in Peristeri, west Athens, and for the exclusion of Kenyan boxer David Munyasia due to a positive test for cathine. The event produced several medalists who later achieved world champion status in professional boxing, including Amir Khan, Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Guillermo Rigondeaux. The tournament also marked the final Olympic appearance of Mario Kindelán, who won his second lightweight gold medal by defeating Amir Khan. The event's structure—four two-minute rounds with real-time scoring by five judges—was specific to these Games. The pre-Olympic test event, the 25th Acropolis Cup, was held at the same venue in May 2004.
Did You Know?
- Kenyan boxer David Munyasia was excluded three days before the opening ceremony after testing positive for cathine.
- Mario Kindelán won his second lightweight gold medal at this event, defeating Amir Khan.
- Cuban and Russian boxers typically do not turn professional due to government funding that allows them to keep amateur status.
- The pre-Olympic test event was the 25th Acropolis Cup, held 26–30 May 2004 in the same hall.
More in Boxing at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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