Angela Carini stopped her fight with Algeria’s Imane Khelif after just 46 seconds.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout at the women’s World Championships in New Delhi last year after she failed to meet the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) eligibility criteria.
Her inclusion in the Olympics games has been roundly criticised by the boxing fraternity.
And all it took was a couple of punches before Carini felt ‘strong pain’ in her nose.
MORE HERE: 😯 Fans left in disbelief after what player did during Ireland Women’s Olympics match
Angela Carini (blue, female) abandons fight against Imane Khelif (red, male) a few minutes into fight /1 pic.twitter.com/yOIvZkDaow
— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) August 1, 2024
Khelif is one of two fighters along with Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan who had failed eligibility tests but both were cleared by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete in women’s boxing in Paris.
Angela Carini has now explained exactly why she quit in the fight.
She said: “I put an end to the match because after the second blow, after years of experience in the ring and a life of fighting, I felt a strong pain in my nose. I said ‘that’s enough’ because… I could not bring the match to an end. So I thought, maybe it’s better to put an end to the match.”
It’s been reported by Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail that the Italian fighter had ‘never felt punches’ like those before today’s fight.
Carini fighting back tears afterwards. Giving lengthy responses to journalists. Said strength of punches was the reason she pulled out. Added wasn’t for her to decide who competes. She wanted to honour the competition but stopped for her health. Said she’d never felt punches like…
— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) August 1, 2024
Never felt punches like that because she’s fighting a man . What is this world coming to . First the opening ceremony then this crap . It is so sad . Put Transgeners against trangenders , make there own Olympics and see if they get any views I bet not.