In a remarkable act of reconciliation, Roy Jones Jr. has finally been presented with the Olympic gold medal he was controversially denied after the 1988 Seoul Games. Hall of Fame boxer Jones shared a touching video on Wednesday showing South Korean fighter Park Si-hun visiting his home in Pensacola, Florida, to hand over the light middleweight gold medal.
Through Park's son, who acted as translator, Park expressed remorse, stating, "I had the gold medal, but I want to give it back to you. It belongs to you." The emotional moment left Jones visibly moved, as he covered his face and responded, "Wow, that is crazy."
The bout between Jones and Park remains one of boxing's most debated Olympic matches. Despite appearing to dominate the fight, Jones lost by a narrow 3-2 judges' decision, a verdict met with immediate outcry and ongoing controversy.
While Jones did not secure the gold at the time, he was awarded the prestigious Val Barker Trophy, recognizing him as the best boxer of the 1988 Games. Jones later achieved greatness as a four-division world champion and is celebrated as one of boxing's finest pound-for-pound athletes.
Reflecting on the moment, Jones wrote on Instagram, "In 1988, I was robbed of the gold medal in what became one of the biggest controversies in boxing history. By the grace of God, a couple of years ago, the man who won that medal made the trip from South Korea to my home to return it to me, feeling it was rightfully mine. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did."
This extraordinary gesture closes a chapter on a historic Olympic dispute, underscoring the enduring spirit of sportsmanship.
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