Imane Khelif’s boxing debut postponed due to injury
Imane Khelif’s professional boxing debut has been postponed following a muscle tear near her shoulder blade, reports BritPanorama.
The Algerian Olympic champion was set to face German fighter Julia Igel at the Salle Wagram in Paris on 23 April, but the entire event is now suspended. A replacement date for the card, which included several professional contests, has yet to be confirmed.
This latest setback comes just two weeks before Khelif’s planned ring debut, adding to an ongoing series of challenges for the Paris 2024 gold medallist, who remains entangled in gender eligibility disputes.
Khelif’s coach John Dovi disclosed the situation’s seriousness, explaining that Khelif experienced severe pain in her arm last Friday. Despite her determination to proceed with the fight, medical examinations revealed a small tear in her back, resulting in the decision to withdraw from the bout. “Her health and physical integrity remain our top priority,” promoter Brahim Asloum noted, wishing Khelif a swift recovery.
After being barred from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, Khelif claimed the -66kg title at the Paris Olympics following clearance from the International Olympic Committee, which had stripped the International Boxing Association (IBA) of recognition due to governance issues. The IBA regained Olympic recognition in February 2024, affecting how athletes like Khelif navigate eligibility debates.
The suspended card was also expected to highlight significant bouts, including an interim lightweight championship clash featuring Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Estelle Mossely against Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, and a WBA Gold super-welterweight fight between Marine Beauchamp and Spain’s Patricia Martín Cabrera.
Khelif has faced a series of cancelled events, having previously withdrawn from a match in Eindhoven in June 2025 and the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool last September. Despite these challenges, she continues to express her ambition to defend her Olympic title in Los Angeles 2028.
The world of boxing has its share of unpredictability; Khelif’s situation serves as a poignant reminder of the physical toll and the complexities athletes face beyond the ring.
