Roy Jones Jr has finally received the Olympic gold medal he was controversially denied in 1988, in an extraordinary act of sportsmanship from the South Korean boxer who defeated him. Hall of Fame fighter Jones shared a video on Wednesday showing Park Si-hun visiting his ranch in Pensacola, Florida, two years ago to present him with the light middleweight gold medal.
In the video, Park said through his son: “I had the gold medal, but I want to give it back to you. It belongs to you.” Jones, visibly emotional, covered his face and responded: “Wow, that is crazy.”
The 1988 Seoul Olympics match remains one of boxing's most contentious moments. Jones appeared to dominate the fight but lost by a 3-2 decision that drew instant criticism and sparked enduring controversy. Despite the loss, Jones was awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the best boxer of the 1988 Olympics.
Jones went on to become a four-division world champion and is regarded as one of the sport's greatest pound-for-pound fighters. Reflecting on the gesture, Jones wrote on Instagram: “In 1988, I was robbed of the gold medal in what became one of the biggest controversies in boxing history. By the grace of God, a couple of years ago, the man who won that medal made the trip from South Korea to my home to return it to me, feeling it was rightfully mine.”
