Boxers from around the globe will seek to join some of the most illustrious names in the sport’s history when they fight in the Olympic medal bouts from August 6 to August 10.
Greats of the ring from Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard to Oleksandr Usyk and Claressa Shields launched their careers with gold medal performances at the Games.
The earlier rounds of the competition have taken place at Arena Paris Nord but seven semifinals and all 13 gold medal bouts will be staged across town at one of the world’s most famous sporting venues.
However, instead of following in the footsteps as Ali and Usyk, boxing’s class of 2024 will be going through their final preparations in locker rooms Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have called their own.
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Where are the Olympic boxing finals in Paris?
The Olympic boxing events will conclude at Roland-Garros, the home of the French Open — one of tennis’ four prestigious annual Grand Slam tournaments.
From July 27 to August 4, the 19-court complex was in familiar territory as the Olympic tennis tournaments played out, with the men's and women's singles concluding at Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Built in 1927 and inaugurated the following year, Roland-Garros owes much of its lustre to almost a century of elite competition on its grounds.
However, it is the recent modernisation of the facilities — namely the addition of a roof to Court Philippe-Chatrier — that has made hosting five evening sessions of Olympic boxing possible.
The arena will have a capacity of 15,000 with seven men’s golds and six for women on the line.
MORE: What are the Olympic boxing weight classes at Paris 2024?
Has Roland-Garros staged boxing before?
Although far from a regular presence on the boxing calendar, there have been a handful of notable boxing bouts staged at Roland-Garros.
Former middleweight world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Marcel Cerdan outpointed experienced ‘Murderers’ Row’ contender Holman Williams over 10 rounds at the west Paris venue in July 1946.
After losing his title to Jake LaMotta in 1949, Cerdan was slated for a rematch with the Raging Bull but tragically died in a plane crash. The Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan has served as a practice facility for the United States basketball team during the Paris Olympics.
Jean Claude Bouttier, another fine middleweight, boxed at State Roland Garros three times in the 1970s. Bouttier won a unanimous 15-round decision over Carlo Duran to win the European title in June 1971. His other two outings ended in defeat.
In September 1973, Bouttier suffered his second defeat to all-time great Carlos Monzon, while a bid for his old 160lb middleweight strap ended in a close 15-round loss to future Marvelous Marvin Hagler foe Kevin Finnegan the following year.
Most recently, Rio 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka knocked out the previously undefeated Petar Milas at Roland-Garros. Unfortunately for Yoka, that win preceded a three-fight losing streak.
It shows nothing is certain for whoever stands on the top step of the Olympic podium. However, whoever enjoys that honour in Paris will do so in iconic surroundings.
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