Team USA’s Olympic boxing woes return in Paris

The United States’ Olympic boxing squad had another rough go of it in Paris.

The United States still holds the record for most medals in Olympic boxing history, and will for some time longer. Team USA had notched 117 medals overall coming into this year’s Summer Games in Paris, including a chart-topping 50 gold medals.

As of this morning, the team would leave Paris with at least 118 medals thanks to welterweight Omari Jones, who won in his quarterfinal bout on Saturday to secure at least a bronze medal.

Just a few hours later, featherweight Jahmal Harvey — thought to be the squad’s best hope for a gold — lost in his quarterfinal matchup, guaranteeing that number would stay at 118.

It’s been another rough outing for the Americans, with a program that has long ago been clearly eclipsed by several across the world, not even really producing much by way of head-turning performances in defeat or combatants whose style seems more suited for the pro ranks, as was the case with the 2012 team whose men — including future world champions Errol Spence, Jose Ramirez, JoJo Diaz, and Jamel Herring — failed to win a single medal.

2004 was the last time a male American fighter won a gold medal, when Andre Ward brought one home from Athens, and medals from 2008-24 have been few and far between for the once-formidable boxing nation. There seemed to be some slightly more encouraging results in Tokyo, but if there was momentum from that it didn’t hold all the way to Paris.

Medal counts

• 2008: 1 (Deontay Wilder, bronze)
• 2012: 2 (Claressa Shields, gold; Marlen Esparza, bronze)
• 2016: 3 (Claressa Shields, gold; Shakur Stevenson, silver; Nico Hernandez, bronze)
• 2020: 4 (Keyshawn Davis, silver; Duke Ragan, silver; Richard Torrez, silver; Oshae Jones, bronze)

The truth is, there may be nothing much that can be done other than hoping top-level talent just comes along and decides to join Team USA and go to the Olympics. The American talent pool hasn’t lacked for talented or capable young boxers, but many prefer to turn pro and make money rather than committing so much to the amateur game.

Boxing may simply never again be a strong suit for Team USA at the Olympics, at least as long as boxing continues as an Olympic sport, which has been in question a couple times now and still is for Los Angeles in 2028.