The medal rounds for the boxing competition at Paris 2024 have commenced and Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif is guaranteed at least a bronze following an emphatic points win over Anna Luca Amori in the quarterfinals.
However, Khelif has her eye on gold and will take another step towards achieving her goal when she takes on Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng at the famed Roland Garros Stadium on August 6. The fight is scheduled for three 3-minute rounds.
Khelif, 25, is a fleet-footed technician with a consistent jab and a right hand that keeps her opponents honest. In addition to overcoming three fighters in the 66kg category, the Algerian boxer has also had to contend with a huge gender row that erupted last week on social media.
MORE: Who is Imane Khelif? Bio and history of Algerian Olympic boxer
“There is a mental health team that doesn’t let us follow social media, especially in the Olympic Games, whether me or other athletes. I’m here to compete and get a good result,” Khelif told SNTV via The Metro.
“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter to refrain from bullying all athletes because this has massive effects. It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
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The 23-year-old Suwannapheng advanced to the semifinal stages thanks to a points win over Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli. Like Khelif, she is confident of victory and that’s despite suffering a pair of losses to the Algerian boxer last year.
“I’ve improved since then and I’ll fight with all I’ve got,” said Suwannapheng in an interview with Thai newspaper Khaosod.
“I’m not afraid because we’re evenly matched. I’ve prepared my body well too, trained a lot. I just think, no matter how strong or tough, we’re both human, we both have two fists.”
The Sporting News will provide live updates and round-by-round scoring for Khelif vs. Suwannapheng.
STREAM: Watch Imane Khelif vs. Janjaem Suwannapheng live with Fubo (U.S. only free trial)
Imane Khelif vs. Janjaem Suwannapheng live updates, results, highlights from Olympics fight
THE WINNER AND ADVANCING TO THE PARIS 2024 WELTERWEIGHT FINAL… IMANE KHELIF!!! THE RESULT IS UNANIMOUS IN FAVOUR OF THE ALGERIAN WHO BOXED AN EXCELLENT FIGHT AND DOMINATED EVERY ROUND.
Round 3: Another right hand by Khelif, who is having a field day. The action gets untidy. Khelif finds distance again and makes the most of it by scoring sharp shots on the outside. Another clinch and Suwannapheng looks desperate. Khelif scores a heavy four-punch burst and the referee gives Suwannapheng a standing count. It’s been easy work for the Algerian who is sure to be in the final. The judges will surely agree,
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-8 Khelif (30-26 Khelif)
Round 2: Three-punch combo scores from Khelif. Suwannapheng is more aggressive but walks onto counters early in this round. EXCELLENT right by Khelif, who punched between her opponent’s shots. Cruise control right now from the Algerian. Great right hook by Khelif. Suwannapheng not throwing enough punches and is almost always out of range. Big hooks from Khelif, who falls off balance and gets caught. Aggressive finish by the Thai fighter but not enough to win the round. Judges agree.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Khelif (20-18 Khelif)
Round 1: Jab and a sharp right counter from Khelif. Jab again and a quick combo from the Algerian. Not many shots from Suwannapheng, but she’s moving well. Nice left hook counter by Khelif. Sharp right again. TERRIFIC left hook counter by Khelif, who controlled the distance throughout that round. All judges score the same way.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Khelif
We now switch to round-by-round scoring for the welterweight (66kg) semifinal between Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng. Whoever wins this bout will contest gold on Friday.
4:33 p.m. ET | 10:32 p.m. CEST: Running a little behind schedule. Khelif vs. Suwannapheng will be up next after the 50kg semifinal which is currently in progress.
3:44 p.m. ET | 9:44 p.m. CEST: The Imane Khelif vs. Janjaem Suwannapheng fight will get underway in approximately 50 minutes.
2:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. CEST: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the welterweight semifinal bout between Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng. We’re in the countdown!!!
MORE: Olympic boxing results from Paris 2024
When is Imane Khelif’s next Olympic boxing fight? Date, start time
- Date: Tuesday, Aug. 6
- Time: 4:34 p.m. ET
The women’s boxing semifinal match between Khelif and Suwannapheng at the 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled to start at 4:34 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The event will be held at Roland-Garros Stadium.
How to watch Imane Khelif’s next Olympic boxing fight: TV channel, live stream
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: Peacock
The women’s boxing semifinal match between Khelif and Suwannapheng at the 2024 Paris Olympics is not scheduled to air on a national TV channel. The fight can only be streamed on Peacock.
Other Olympic events are available to watch on Fubo, which is currently offering a free trial.
