Who are the top pro boxing prospects to come out of the Paris Olympics?

The Paris Olympics, where dreams are either made or shattered under the bright lights and blaring anthems. But if you’ve ever followed boxing, you know the script isn’t always clean. Amateur boxing, after all, is like a wild west where the referees sometimes seem to flip coins instead of scorecards.

If boxing is famously “the red-light district of sports”, then amateur boxing is an out-and-out den of vice. Paris showed that in spades. The judges were questionable at best, corrupt at worst, with three judges being quietly sent home by the Paris 2024 organizers in the middle of the games for overtly biased decisions.

Even when it is good, it is still pretty bad. Knockdowns are not given weight in scoring, standing eight counts are handed out almost randomly, and fighters who are soundly whipped are routinely awarded wins. The judges of the Eurovision song contest couldn’t do any worse.

Despite all of that, there were some fighters in Paris who stood out, clearly poised to go on to bigger and better things in the professional ranks. Whether it be with Matchroom, Top Rank, Golden Boy, or any other promoter, these are some of the best prospects to come out of the Paris Olympic Games.

Bakhodir Jalolov

The Uzbek giant, with a smile as wide as the gap between rounds, didn’t just win gold in Paris; he put the heavyweight division on notice. This kid’s got the kind of power that makes the ropes tremble, and his footwork? It’s a ballet, only if the dancers were built like brick walls. Mark my words, Jalolov is on a fast track to headline status, and every promoter worth his salt knows it.

Erislandy Alvarez

Just like that, from the streets of Havana to the rings of Paris, Erislandy Alvarez is the name on everyone’s lips. You didn’t need a crystal ball to see his talent - just a pair of gloves and a front-row seat at the Olympics. Alvarez’s sharp, disciplined style in the ring speaks of years spent honing his craft, and the whispers around the boxing community are growing louder. This Cuban southpaw has the kind of grit and heart that can’t be taught, and as he steps into the professional arena, you get the feeling he’s carrying more than just a nation’s hopes - he’s got a whole future on his fists.

Julia Szeremeta

The young Polish southpaw danced around her opponents with the kind of grace that makes you wonder if she’s been at this her whole life. She’s got a jab as sharp as a razor and the kind of ring IQ that makes seasoned pros take notice. “It’s not just that she wins,” said one of her coaches, “it’s how she does it.” Szeremeta’s combination of power, precision, and patience marks her as a fighter to watch, and you can bet her name will be one to remember long after the Olympic dust settles.

Marco Verde

Out of all the young fighters, none shone brighter than Marco Verde, the Mexican dynamo with hands as quick as his feet. Verde, with his relentless pressure and pinpoint accuracy, left the judges with little doubt that he’s destined for the professional ranks. Watching him in the ring was like witnessing a young Roberto Durán - fearless, relentless, and with a smile that almost says, “This is only the beginning.” You get the feeling that when he turns pro, the boxing world better be ready for something special.

Imane Khelif

At the Paris Olympics, Imane Khelif emerged as one of the most promising new talents in Boxing, clinching gold in the women’s welterweight division. However, her victory was shadowed by controversy. Earlier in her career, Khelif faced allegations of failing a chromosome test, which led to her exclusion from a prior comPetition. It must be said that these claims came from a single, later discredited source. A source who today has been kicked out of the international amateur Boxing governing fraternity. The body that excluded her is also discredited and under investigation for fraud and corruption. The Olympics conducted their own tests and have concluded that Khelif is indeed a woman and allowed her participation. Despite this controversy, she proved her critics wrong in Paris, dominating her bouts with skill and poise. Khelif is a future star in professional Boxing and will be a force to be reckoned with.

So, while the Paris Olympics may have had its share of questionable calls and eyebrow-raising decisions, it also gave us a glimpse into the future of boxing. These fighters aren’t just names on a list; they’re the next wave of champions, the ones who’ll be headlining cards and filling arenas. Amateur boxing might be a wild ride, but it’s these moments - the emergence of raw talent and unpolished gems - that remind you why you keep watching, why you keep believing in the sweet science.