In a gesture of great sportsmanship and recognition, South Korean boxer Park Si-hun, who defeated Roy Jones Jr. in a controversial fight at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, gave Jones the gold medal that many considered the American deserved.
The emotional delivery took place at Jones’ ranch in Pensacola, Florida, two years ago. The news was revealed through a video posted on Jones’ YouTube channel on Wednesday.
Jones, who thought he was going to an interview, met Park and his families at the gym on May 30, 2023.
“I had the gold medal, but I wanted to give it back to you. It belongs to you,” Park said through his son, who acted as a translator.
Park Si-hun
Roy Jones Jr., a la derecha, perdió por decisión controvertida ante Park Si-hun de Corea del Sur en la final de la categoría de peso mediano ligero en los Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1988 en Seúl. (Foto AP/Ron Kutz)Park was declared the winner by a 3-2 decision in the light middleweight title fight in Seoul, South Korea. The decision stunned Jones.
The International Olympic Committee in 1997 concluded that it had not found evidence to support the bribery allegations against the judges who voted in favor of Park.
Despite not winning gold, Jones received the Val Barker Trophy for the best boxer of the Games. Subsequently, he won titles in four weight classes, from middleweight to heavyweight, and had a professional record of 66-9.
Park retired from boxing after the Olympics, but then became a coach.
