Like Sofiane Oumiha the day before, the Albi native lost in the final on Thursday in his flyweight category.
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The French have not had a good time on the Roland-Garros centre court. After the defeats of Sofiane Oumiha and Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze the day before, Billal Bennama lost by unanimous decision on Thursday 8 August on the Philippe-Chatrier court, which had been transformed into a boxing ring for the occasion. In the flyweight final (-51 kg), he was dominated by the Uzbek Hasanboy Dusmatov, who had already beaten him a year earlier in the final of the amateur world championships, depriving him of yet another major title.
Facing an Olympic boxing legend who had already won the light flyweight (-49 kg) title in Rio, a category that was absent in Paris, the Frenchman never managed to find the flaw to gain the upper hand over an opponent to whom he gave more than 20 centimetres (1.78 m against 1.56 m) according to the organiser’s data. Although four of the five judges gave him a round, Billal Bennama never managed to convince more than two in the same round, thus losing all three and logically bowing out unanimously.
A result in progress after a referee’s stoppage in the first round of the World Championship final against the same opponent 15 months earlier. “I am proud to bring home a beautiful silver medal. I am still satisfied with the work accomplished”wanted to retain the one who trains in Blagnac (Haute-Garonne), on the outskirts of Toulouse.
Paris 2024 – Boxing: Summary of Billal Bennama’s final
French boxer Billal Bennama lost in the Olympic final against Uzbek Hasanboy Dusmatov on Thursday, August 8 at Roland-Garros, in the under 51 kg category.
(France 2)
French boxing therefore ends its Games at home with three medals (two silver, one bronze), but no titles. The Noble French art is still waiting for the successor of Tony Yoka and Estelle Mossely, winners in Rio in 2016 and the only gold medalists in the six editions of the Games held since 2004. “I want to go for a nice gold medal because I know what it represents. I think I’ll be there for Los Angeles.”promised Billal Bennama at the end of his fight. His next objective, like that of the delegation of which he could be the leader, will therefore be to do better in the city of stars, the scene of legendary clashes.