Roy Jones Jr. Receives Olympic Gold Medal From Park Si-hun
An emotional reunion took place at Roy Jones Jr.’s gym in Pensacola, Florida, two years ago, when Park Si-hun, the South Korean boxer who defeated Jones at the 1988 Olympic Games, handed him the gold medal that many believed Jones deserved.
The news was recently revealed through a video posted on Jones’ YouTube channel.
On May 30, 2023, Jones went to his gym believing it would be an interview. To his surprise, he found Park in the ring, accompanied by their respective families.
I had the gold medal, but I wanted to give it back to you. It belongs to you.
Park Si-hun
Roy Jones Jr., a la derecha, perdió por decisión controvertida ante Park Si-hun de Corea del Sur en la pelea por la medalla de oro en la división de peso mediano ligero en los Juegos OlÃmpicos de Verano de 1988 en Seúl. (AP Photo/Ron Kutz)In the Seoul, South Korea Olympics, Park was declared the winner by a 3-2 decision in the light-middleweight title fight, which led to Jones being lifted into the air after the announcement of the result.
Park has commented that the criticism received and the depression he sometimes felt led him to have suicidal impulses.
The International Olympic Committee concluded in 1997 that it found no evidence to support the bribery allegations against the judges who voted in favor of Park.
Despite not winning gold, Jones was awarded 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.
