Alvarez of Cuba, at 63.5, defeated local idol Sophiane Oumiha. In 80kg it was Ukraine's Khyzhniak, silver at Tokyo 2020, who beat Kazakhstan's Oralbay. The day also saw Taiwan's Lin Yu Ting make it through to the 66kg final amid controversy over her participation due to doubts over her gender.

In the men's 63.5 kg category, the duel was between two of the best boxers of their weight in the world. Local idol Sophiane Oumiha (France) and Erislandy Alvarez Borges (Cuba). Two similar styles, bold and resourceful. Oumiha tested his opponent but the Cuban was better and the judges gave him the unanimous win in the first round.

The Frenchman had to tighten up in the second round. He was forced to step forward and attack, break his order and the Cuban held on. It didn't bother him. Alvarez looked the winner against all the scenery that supported the Frenchman. The second round was much more even. The third round was a poker game and the decision was very difficult and tight. It came as a surprise at Roland Garros, which fell silent after hearing the victory of the Cuban Alvarez. Oumiha settled in tears for silver, the same prize she won at Rio 2016.

 The other final pitted Nurbek Oralbay (Kazakhstan) against Olegsandr Khyzhniak (Ukraine) at 80 kg. The Kazakh had to change his style and throw more punches than usual to try to neutralise the Ukrainian, the boxer with the highest number of punches in a fight. The first round went to Khyzhniak, who won silver in Tokyo and went on the offensive against the Kazakh. 

The third round was too close to call, and Oralbay improved in the second round. The third round was the solution. The Ukrainian kept up the tireless pace and the Kazakh did not take a step back. It was a total exchange of punches that ended with both boxers exhausted. In the end, the victory went to Khyzhniak by split decision and he improved his silver medal from Tokyo 2020.

Wednesday, the 11th day of the Olympic boxing tournament, apart from the finals, began with the semi-final duel in the women's 57 kg category, with the media presence of Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu Ting, whose participation in the Olympic Games, like Algeria's Imane Khelif, has boosted her popularity and prominence.

The open debate about her gender status has had a global impact. Her elimination from the World Cup for failing gender eligibility tests and her subsequent special permission to be in Paris 2024 has sparked reactions from all sides, both for and against. Khelif qualified for the grand final on Tuesday, and Yu Ting did the same by convincingly beating Turkish boxer Esra Yildiz 5-0 and giving her no respite. The Turkish boxer won the bronze medal and the Taiwanese will fight for the gold medal against Julia Szeremeta from Poland.

Lin Yu Ting appeared in the Roland Garros ring after her previous opponent, Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva, expressed her complaint by showing her fingers with the double 'XX', in reference to the female chromosomes and not the male, the XY. "I want to fight with women," the Bulgarian said at the end. 

All this stirred up even more controversy, but Lin Yu Ting did not let it bother her and made it through the semi-final. At the end of the bout her semi-final opponent, Turkey's Esra Yidiz also repeated the gesture with her fingers expressing protest again. History repeated itself.

 In the other semi-final, Julia Szeremeta beat Nesthey Peteccio of the Philippines. Szeremeta managed to come back from a first round deficit and her boxing got better and better. The 20-year-old will fight for gold on Saturday against the Taiwanese.

The 92kg men's semi-finals were particularly attractive. The first one pitted Nelvie Raman (Germany) against Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan). The Uzbek was the favourite from the start. With his powerful southpaw and his 2.01 metres he set the pace of the fight. 

He kept his left and kept the middle distance. The German had a hard time because of the Uzbek's long jabs. His accuracy was pinpoint and although Raman was combative he could not get into Jalolov's territory. The first round went to the Uzbek. Raman with his 1.89m could not counter Jalolov.

The Uzbek won clearly and when he wanted to go one more gear, he did it and convinced the judges with his boxing, who gave him the unanimous victory by 5 to 0. Jalolov made it to the final and will try to defend his Olympic title won in Tokyo 2020. Uzbekistan will have another representative in a final.

The other men's 92kg semi-final pitted Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze (France) against Ayoub Ghadfa Drissi El Aissaoui (Spain). The local boxer had the support of the Roland Garros crowd. Spain had not had a finalist since 2004, when Rafa Lozano, Ayoub Ghadfa's coach, won the title. The boxers knew each other, they fought several times.

In 2022 Ayoub Ghadfa beat Dini Aboudou at the European Championships. The Spaniard combined several heights and was able to hold the Frenchman. The local sought to win by number of blows even if they did not hit the target. 

Ayoub Ghadfa took the first round. The Roland Garros pavilion roared. He worked the left jab and the legs of the Spaniard were faster. The Frenchman gave everything in the last round looking for a winning hand that he did not find. Ayoub Ghadfa will contest the final next Saturday against the great Jalolov.

Results 7 August:

Semi-finals. Women. 57 kg

Lin Yu Ting Esra (TPE) Yildiz Kahraman (Turkey) 5-0 Bronze for Yildiz Kahraman.

 Nesthey Petecio (Philippines) Julia Szeremeta (Poland) 1-4. Bronze for Nesthey Petecio.

Semifinals. Men 92 kg

Nelvie Raman (Germany) Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan) 0-5. Bronze for Nelvie Raman.

Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze (France) Ayoub Ghadfa Drissi El Aissaoui (Spain) 0-5. Bronze for Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze.

Final. Men 63,5 kg

Sophiane Oumiha (France) Erislandy Alvarez Borges (Cuba) 2-3

Gold: Erislandy Alvarez. Plat: Sophiane Oumiha

Final. Men 80 kg

Nurbek Oralbay (Kazakhstan) Olegsandr Khyzhniak (Ukraine) 2-3

Gold: Olegsandr Khyzhniak. Silver: Nurbek Oralbay