- Luca Hamori, Khelif’s next opponent, has posted a photo of a horned creature alongside a female boxer
- Hungarian authorities have voiced their protest ahead of Luca Hamori’s upcoming match against Imane Khelif
- Khelif secured an early win in her debut fight as Angela Carini withdrew just 46 seconds in
Luca Hamori, the Hungarian pugilist set to combat Imane Khelif amid a gender controversy, recently shared an image depicting a female boxer facing a horned beast in the ring.
On a day that saw discussions around the Olympics remain heated—especially following the second boxer disqualified for failing a gender test—the Hungarian Boxing Association lodged a complaint with Olympic officials regarding the upcoming match.
Hamori expressed she is ‘not intimidated’ by Khelif and claimed that Angela Carini, her previous opponent, ‘gave in’ just 46 seconds into their bout.
The 23-year-old even took to Instagram to share the striking artwork of a slender woman in blue shorts challenging a towering, muscular creature in red under the Olympic logo.
‘If she or he is a man, defeating them would mean more to me,’ Hamori stated regarding Khelif, who was disqualified from last year’s World Championships after failing a gender test as per the regulations provided by the then-governing IBA.
Luca Hamori, Khelif’s opponent, has posted an illustration of a horned beast in the boxing ring alongside a female fighter ahead of their match.
Hamori has made it clear that she is not intimidated, despite the concerns raised by the Hungarian Boxing Association.
Khelif, who faced disqualification after a gender test last year, emerged victorious in her opening fight as her opponent withdrew after merely 46 seconds.
‘I’m eager for the fight. In my training club, I typically spar with male partners, so I’m accustomed to this,’ Hamori stated confidently.
Lajos Berko, a board member of the Hungarian Boxing Association, shared their protest with a broadcaster, indicating they might pursue legal measures against Khelif’s participation. ‘It is disheartening to witness a controversy surrounding a subject that is not conducive to sportsmanship,’ he commented. ‘Such a situation is both unacceptable and appalling.’
In the very ring where Carini experienced her emotional withdrawal, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who also faced exclusion from the World Championships, effortlessly advanced to the quarter-finals after overpowering her opponent from Uzbekistan.
The Taiwanese featherweight, aged 28, won by unanimous decision against Sitora Turdibekova, and both fighters chose not to address the media.
The IBA, which lost its authority to oversee boxing for the Olympics amid governance issues, determined both athletes failed unspecified gender tests but has not supplied documentation to support these claims.
Additionally, culture secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her discomfort watching Khelif’s fight, remarking she would confer with sporting organizations on ‘inclusivity, fairness, and safety’ in sports.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed his intention to ‘prevent men from competing in women’s sports’, while Britain’s top female boxer voiced her concerns over the situation being ‘unfair’ and ‘hazardous’.
Angela Carini was visibly distressed after her abrupt exit from the match, dropping to her knees in tears.
The Algerian team has responded to what they describe as ‘groundless attacks’ against Khelif as the Olympics approach.
Carini was struck twice in the initial round prior to her decision to withdraw from the match after only 46 seconds.
In a separate development, the IOC—having revoked the IBA’s authority over Olympic boxing due to governance issues—expressed disapproval of the backlash. Spokesperson Mark Adams remarked that the IBA’s decision to remove both athletes last year was taken ‘without proper justification’ and affirmed that Khelif was born, registered, and has lived as a female. He emphasized that the notion of a man competing against a woman is scientifically inaccurate.
Adams further questioned the validity of the IBA’s testing procedures. ‘We lack clarity on the accuracy of the tests conducted,’ he commented. ‘There’s doubt surrounding whether we can replicate or trust the results of those tests.’
