The presence of athletes who failed the gender test at the 2024 Olympics has caused a real storm in the boxing world. But not all of the cheaters’ opponents are complaining about the force of the blow, crying and asking for forgiveness.

The brave Russian Azalia Amineva gave a worthy rebuff to the scandalous representative of Algeria Imana Khelif, harshly punishing her opponent for dirty boxing.

A powerful response to a dirty rival

The women’s Olympic tournament is increasingly reminiscent of surrealism. The presence of Iman Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yuting of Taiwan is angering not only the injured participants but also outsiders associated with martial arts.

In 2023, these athletes were found to have a male XY chromosome during a gender test. They were immediately kicked out of the World Championships in disgrace. By then, Khelif had already reached the final in the 66 kg weight category. If not for the disqualification, one of the medals would have gone to Algeria.

It’s a shame that the results came so late, because on the way to the main fight Iman knocked out the undefeated amateur Russian Azalea Amineva from the tournament. The 19-year-old native of Bashkiria went to the championship as the country’s main hope for a medal. The fight in the 1/8 finals was equal. Iman was unable to crush our young star, as she is doing now at the Olympics with other girls.

The first two rounds were evenly matched. Amineva lacked the experience to avoid the dirt that Khelif allowed herself. Twice the masculine Algerian grabbed the Russian in a clinch and threw her to the floor. She did this exactly at the moment when our athlete began to land her punches with emphasis.

Unfortunately, the judges did not have sympathy for Amineva, so in the third round, all that was left was to hope for dominance and a knockdown or an early finish. Azalia decided to take a risk, but she had to pay a high price for it. The judge saw a knockdown in our athlete in a mutual exchange of blows, which deprived her of an important point.

But the Russian did not give up, continuing to fight Khelif until the final bell. After the fight resumed, Azalia almost immediately showed the judge what a real knockdown is. The Russian knocked out her open opponent with one precise left hook. But a bright knockdown was not enough for victory, too much was missed at the beginning. Azalia lost by split decision of the judges – 1:4.

Iman Khelif and Azalia Amineva / Photo: © Russian Boxing Federation

“I’m ready to repeat”

Now the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ignoring common sense and the safety of other girls, allows Iman to beat up her opponents at the Paris Games with impunity. Officials are persistently trying to cover up for masculine athletes, finally losing respect in the eyes of the boxing world.

Many martial arts representatives around the world have already stood up for the injured athletes. Sensible people simply refuse to put up with such IOC policy. So the brave Azalia recorded an appeal to Iman, where she challenged her to a fight.

– Hello, Iman Khelif. Don’t you think there’s too much unfounded hype around you? Remember when we boxed in 2023 in India at the World Championships, where I knocked you down? I’m ready to repeat that moment and send you to the mat again to answer for all the girls you got in their way.

I am ready to fight Khelif and answer for all the girls. Any day, any place. Except for August 8, when I will make my debut in the pros. Professional boxing or amateur. It doesn’t matter. I am waiting for an answer. Time has come! — Amineva said in a video that she posted on her social media page.

So far, Khelif has not answered the brave Russian’s challenge. The Algerian continues to beat up ordinary girls in the ring in Paris under the reliable patronage of the IOC. But if she has the courage to share the ring with the Russian, it will be a cool spectacle.