Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is preparing to return to the boxing ring on December 15 in Paris, marking her first fight since winning gold at the 2024 Olympic Games.The 27-year-old will take on 21-year-old Dutch boxer Clarida Sarabia in a six-round professional bout.The fight was announced at a press conference in Paris on Friday. Sarabia enters the contest with an unbeaten professional record of four wins.Khelif was previously scheduled to face Julia Igel in April but had to withdraw because of an injury.
Khelif opens up on long absence from boxing
Khelif has not competed in an official event since her Olympic triumph in the women’s welterweight category at the Paris Games. Her gold-medal victory came amid controversy over her eligibility, following her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) based on sex chromosome tests.Speaking in a promotional video shared by Stair Event on Instagram, Khelif reflected on her difficult time away from competition and insisted that she never stopped working towards her return.“Days became weeks, weeks became months. I waited, doubted. But deep inside, the fire never died. Behind closed doors, I kept fighting,” she said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.She also explained that her comeback carries a bigger meaning beyond her personal boxing career.“Because this fight was never only mine. It was for everyone who dared to be, for everyone who refused to give up,” she added.
2028 Olympics participation remains uncertain
Khelif’s future at the Olympics remains unclear because of the ongoing debate surrounding gender eligibility testing in boxing. World Boxing, which will oversee the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, introduced mandatory sex testing for athletes competing in its events last year.In February, Khelif said she was willing to undergo genetic testing, but only if it was conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).Asked whether she would defend her Olympic title in 2028, she told reporters, “I can’t answer, because I’ve filed complaints against World Boxing regarding the gender tests.”However, her coach Kamel Abdesselam suggested that another Olympic appearance was unlikely.“She has no interest in competing in the Games again. She’s already an Olympic champion,” he said.
