An Olympic boxer who stopped her own fight after 46 seconds has explained her reasons in an interview.
Yesterday, August 1, Italian boxer Angela Carini faced Algerian boxer Imane Khelif in a highly anticipated match.
However, the bout took an unexpected turn when Carini decided to end the fight just 46 seconds in, citing safety concerns, per Sky Sports News.
Originally scheduled for four rounds, the match was cut short as Carini struggled to continue.
The 25-year-old welterweight's headgear was dislodged twice within the brief encounter with Khelif, contributing to her decision to withdraw.
"This time I didn't succeed because I couldn't fight anymore," Carini explained to the press after the fight.
"I put an end to the match because after the second blow, after years of experience in the ring and a life of fighting, I felt a strong pain in my nose. I said 'that's enough' because [...] I could not bring the match to an end. So I thought, maybe it's better to put an end to the match."
As cited by LBC, Carini went on to say: "After the second [punch] I couldn't breathe anymore. I quit to save my own life.
"I went to my coach and said 'enough' because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn't feel like fighting anymore."
Carini, visibly distressed and possibly suffering from a broken nose, declined to shake hands with Khelif and wept on the canvas.
Her coach corroborated her decision: "She felt pain in her nose and said to me, 'I don't want to fight anymore.'"
The fight itself was mired in controversy.
Khelif, standing at 5ft 10, was one of two female boxers allowed to compete after being disqualified from last year's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi.
The disqualification was due to Khelif failing to meet the necessary gender eligibility criteria, despite being raised and living as a woman since birth.
Reflecting on the match, Carini expressed her regret: "I have always honored my country with loyalty. This time I didn't succeed because I couldn't fight anymore. So I put an end to the match."
In response, Algeria's Olympic Committee defended Khelif, dismissing the criticism as "baseless."
The committee emphasized the unfairness of the attacks on Khelif's character, especially as she prepares for the Olympics.
Khelif was welcomed into the ring by cheers from Algerian fans, underscoring the support she retains despite the controversy.
"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics," stated Algeria's committee.
Taiwan's double-world champion Lin Yu-ting is scheduled to compete on Friday against Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan.
Lin lost her bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships after failing to meet the International Boxing Association's (IBA) unspecified eligibility criteria.
Khelif faced a similar fate, being disqualified just hours before her gold medal bout at the same competition.
However, in June last year, the IBA was stripped of its status as the global governing body for boxing by the IOC due to its failure to implement necessary reforms in governance, finance, and ethics.
Consequently, the IOC is overseeing the boxing tournament in Paris, applying its own eligibility criteria.
Khelif's victory on Thursday has sparked international controversy over these criteria. The IOC has attributed the blame to the IBA, criticizing it for the "arbitrary" disqualification decisions regarding Lin and Khelif last year.
As per Sky Sports, the IOC said in a statement: "These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA," the IOC said in a statement.
"Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process."
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