Amineva on fight with Algerian who failed gender test: “I didn’t feel much difference in power”

Russian Azalia Amineva said that she did not feel a big difference in power in the fight against Algerian Iman Khelif at the 2023 World Boxing Championships compared to fights with other opponents.

In 2023, the International Boxing Association (IBA) suspended Khelif during the World Championships in India due to not meeting the eligibility criteria. A gender test showed that the athletes had XY chromosomes. Amineva lost to Khelif at the 2023 World Boxing Championships.

— Personally, I didn’t feel any big difference in power then. In my opinion, my internal experiences prevented me from performing successfully. I found out who I would have to fight, I was a little nervous, I got worked up, and I couldn’t pull myself together. But in the third round, I managed to knock Khelif down. This gave me confidence. I think that in two years I will be able to step into the ring with her again and take revenge, — RT quotes Amineva as saying.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has cleared Khelif to compete in women’s boxing. She has reached the final of the 2024 Paris Olympic boxing tournament in the 66 kg weight category, guaranteeing herself at least a silver medal.