Imane Khelif’s next opponent ‘not scared’ and rules out stopping fight at Olympics
Anna Luca Hamori is relishing the challenge of dumping Imane Khelif out of the Paris Olympics following the Algerian's controversial opener.
Khelif's women's welterweight Round of 16 bout with Angela Carini ended after just 46 seconds as the Italian decided to quit in emotional scenes.
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Carini was reduced to tears after her Olympics dream ended in tatters against Khelif, whose inclusion at the 2024 Games has caused widespread controversy.
The 25-year-old failed a gender eligibility test in 2023, resulting in her being disqualified from the World Championships due to having 'elevated levels of testosterone' and XY chromosomes.
But the International Olympics Committee allowed Khelif to compete in Paris, where they have defended their decision in a lengthy statement following her victory over Carini.
And now Hamori, Hungary's first Olympic boxer, has had her thoughts on her upcoming quarter-final opponent.
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Though the 23-year-old has stressed she is solely focused on her own performance and is refusing to be distracted by the talk outside of the ring.
She told reporters: "I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media.
"If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
Hamori added: "I’m trying to not use my phone before the fight.
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“I don’t want to care about the comments or the story or the news. I just want to stay focused on myself.
"I did it before my last two fights, so I think this is the key, and we will see.”
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Hamori also ruled out any scenario in which she would stop the fight.
“It was her [Carini's] choice,” Hamori said. “I don’t understand, because I thought every boxer’s mind is the same like mine, to never give up.
"But it was her choice. We don’t know what was the reason. It’s her life, but I know I want to do this in my own life.”
Furious Ebanie Bridges is boycotting Olympics and tells IOC to ‘wake up’ in expletive rant as Angela Carini quits controversial fight with Imane Khelif
While Hamori has no fear of facing Khelif, former IBF bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges has told talkSPORT she would boycott the Olympics if that was her.
Questioned whether she would feel comfortable fighting an athlete with XY chromosomes, as opposed to the female XX chromosomes, the Australian remarked said: "No, I wouldn't.
"I just think it's wrong. I wouldn't do it... I wouldn't risk it.
"And I'm tough, I'm a hard a***. You know what I mean, but I wouldn't do it and I wouldn't want to give them that to share the ring with me, because it's unfair.
"You know you've got more testosterone, you know you've got XY chromosomes. That's like knowing you've got a biological advantage."
Unlike the World Championships which are run by the International Boxing Association, the Olympics has been run by the IOC since Rio 2016.
And Bridges has stressed that the IOC need to do more to level the playing field.
She stated: "Wake the f*** up. Honestly. I'm all about inclusivity, but this is such a minority and it's taking away girls dreams.
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"It's just not fair. Cut the woke s*** and let's be real here. Look at the science.
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"You're not just XY you've actually been tested to have high testosterone… it's not fair, it's ridiculous and getting out of control.
"And don't bring it to combat sports. It's wrong for any sport."
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