Cuban boxers on course for triple Olympic crown. GETTY IMAGES

Boxing made its debut at the modern Olympics in 1904 and has been contested at every Summer Games since, apart from the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm as Swedish law banned the sport at the time.

With a risk of being excluded from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics because of the governance issues, nearly 250 boxers - evenly split for the first time between men and women - will battle for Olympic medals from 27 July to 10 August at Paris 2024, the penultimate day of the Games.

The IOC suspended its recognition of the International Boxing Association in 2019 due to concerns over governance, financial and ethical issues, and last year it withdrew its recognition of the governing body. A few days ago, during the IOC 143 session, the IBA was excluded from the Olympic Charter, something the IOC forgot to do during the 141 and 142 sessions. 

Kelly Harrington celebrating her victory at the Tokyo 2020. GETTY IMAGES
Kelly Harrington celebrating her victory at the Tokyo 2020. GETTY IMAGES

Tokyo 2020 champion in the women’s lightweight  Kellie Harrington from the Republic of Ireland suffered her first defeat in three years in April and now is under huge pressure.

"It's not about being the greatest, it's not about bringing back a medal. It's that feeling of, 'I'm just going to get this done because this is what I've worked for'," said the 34-year-old athlete to the Irish media.

There are several plotlines in the men's competition, which will similarly feature reigning Olympic champions, some boxers with professional experience and also emerging talents, AFP reports.

Arlen Lopez of Cuba with the gold medal of the 2023 PanAm Games. GETTY IMAGES
Arlen Lopez of Cuba with the gold medal of the 2023 PanAm Games. GETTY IMAGES

Many boxing legends from the USA have won Olympic gold, but Andre Ward is the country's last Olympic champion. The USA haven't had an Olympic champion since 2004, and their hopes of ending that drought will be led by 21-year-old featherweight Jahmal Harvey.

Cuba, one of the most successful countries in Olympic boxing, has two double Olympic champions in Arlen Lopez and Julio Cesar La Cruz. Only three boxers have ever won three Olympic gold medals and two of them, Felix Savon and Teofilio Stevenson, are from Cuba. Lopez and La Cruz can join this elite group, which also includes Hungary's Laszlo Papp.

Anthony Joshua's sparring partner Delicious Orie after winning the Commonwealth Games. GETTY IMAGES
Anthony Joshua's sparring partner Delicious Orie after winning the Commonwealth Games. GETTY IMAGES

Britain have high hopes for 27-year-old super-heavyweight Delicious Orie, who has been mentioned as the next possible Anthony Joshua (London 2012 champion) and is a reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

A sparring partner of Joshua's, Orie once said: "Some say I'm the new Anthony Joshua, but one day I aim to be even better and dominate."