| Middleweight boxing at the Games of the VIII Olympiad | ||||||||||
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| Venue | Vélodrome d'hiver | |||||||||
| Dates | July 15–20, 1924 | |||||||||
| Competitors | 23 from 15 nations | |||||||||
| Medalists | ||||||||||
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Themen's middleweight event was part of theboxing programme at the1924 Summer Olympics. The weight class was the third-heaviest contested, and allowed boxers of up to 160 pounds (72.6 kilograms). The competition was held from Tuesday July 15, 1924 to Sunday July 20, 1924. Twenty-three boxers from 15 nations competed.[1]
This competition saw one of the most controversial bouts in Olympic history, when FrenchmanRoger Brousse and defending Olympic championHarry Mallin fromGreat Britain faced each other in the quarterfinals. Near the end of the fight Mallin complained to the Belgian referee that Brousse had bitten him. Mallin showed the referee bite marks on his chest and shoulder. His protest was overruled by the judges and the bout was awarded to the French boxer on points (2:1). An appeal launched by Swedish official and IOC memberOscar Söderlund brought forward medical evidence that Mallin had been bitten.Manuel Gallardo also came forward with a complaint about being bitten by Brousse in their bout. Brousse was disqualified and Mallin became the winner, even though the jury declared that the foul had not been intentional.[2] French fans had to be restrained by the police from charging the ring.[3]
Two days later the French crowd were still incensed when Mallin boxed in the final againstJohn Elliott. Brousse came in his boxing attire and his fans lifted him up into the ring. Only after intervention by the police were the two British opponents able to contest the final.
| Boxing at the 1924 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flyweight | men |
| Bantamweight | men |
| Featherweight | men |
| Lightweight | men |
| Welterweight | men |
| Middleweight | men |
| Light heavyweight | men |
| Heavyweight | men |
1904: 145–158 lb (65.8–71.7 kg) · 1908: 140–158 lb (63.5–71.7 kg) · 1920–1936: 147–160 lb (66.7–72.6 kg) · 1948: 67–73 kg · 1952–2000: 71–75 kg · 2004–2012: 69–75 kg · 2016–2020: 70–75 kg · 2024–: 72–80 kg | |
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