Olympic Gold Medalist Imane Khelif Set for Professional Boxing Debut in December

Olympic champion Imane Khelif is set to make her professional boxing debut next month in Paris, marking her first fight since securing welterweight gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Algerian fighter, who was at the center of a significant gender controversy during the 2024 Olympics, holds a professional license from France’s boxing federation. Her return to the ring was previously postponed in April due to a training injury.

During a news conference on Friday, Khelif, accompanied by her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah, announced her upcoming bout. The 27-year-old will compete in the super-welterweight division against Clarida Sarabia on December 15.

"It’s been over two years since I last boxed, and I’ve really missed being in the ring," Khelif stated. "The last couple of years have been quite difficult. The time has come to turn professional, and I’m going to give it my all."

Coach Abdesselam expressed strong confidence in Khelif's potential, suggesting she could win a world title "within three to five fights." He even drew a comparison between his fighter and the legendary Muhammad Ali, stating, "We want to put Imane on top of the world."

Khelif, who has faced accusations regarding her gender, was born female but naturally carries the SRY gene, which is associated with masculinity. In February, she disclosed in an interview with French sports daily L’Equipe that she had undergone hormonal treatment to reduce her testosterone levels in preparation for the Paris Olympics.