Olympic champion Imane Khelif to make professional boxing debut in December

What the report says

Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif is set to make her professional debut in Paris on December 15, according to Al Jazeera, marking her first fight since winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Algerian boxer, who competes in the super-welterweight division, will face Clarida Sarabia. Khelif announced the bout at a news conference with her coach, Kamel Abdesselam, and promoter Yacin Berrabah.

Al Jazeera reported that Khelif has held a professional licence from France’s boxing federation and had previously delayed an expected return to competition after a training injury in April. The article also noted that she was at the center of a gender controversy during the 2024 Games, when debate around eligibility and sex testing followed her Olympic run. Khelif said she had not boxed for more than two years and described the period since her Olympic victory as difficult.

The move is significant because it shifts Khelif from amateur Olympic competition into the professional ranks, where expectations and match scheduling are different. Her coach said he believes she could contend for a world title within a few fights, underscoring the attention surrounding her next stage in the sport. More broadly, the debut will be closely watched because of the public scrutiny that followed her Olympic triumph and the broader debate over gender eligibility in women’s boxing.