Frenchman Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze wins bronze in super-heavyweight despite defeat to Spaniard Ayoub Ghadfa

Beaten on points in the first two rounds, the French boxer in the +92 kg category won bronze despite a fine third round on Wednesday.

A right hand almost turned the match around. Trailing after the first two rounds, French boxer Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze lost in the super-heavyweight semi-final against Spaniard Ayoub Ghadfa Drissi El Aissaoui, but came away with a nice bronze medal on Wednesday, August 7 at the Paris 2024 Games. Although he almost knocked out his opponent at the end of the last round, he was unable to make up for his deficit on points to reach the final. This is the 50th medal for the French delegation and the first in boxing.

Less on his feet than in the previous rounds, Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze betrayed his reputation as a lively boxer for two rounds, before a late burst of energy. Standing in the centre of the ring, he seemed to be stretched out by Ayoub Ghadfa Drissi El Aissaoui, who had a more slender profile, yet was similar to the Ecuadorian. Gerlon Gilmar Congo Chala, whom the Frenchman had dismissed without blinking in the quarter-finals. The first round, lost four judges to one, could have turned in his favour if he had kept his good habit of concluding exchanges.

The second round, lost five judges to zero, was not contested, as Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze seemed without a solution against the Spaniard, who hit more often, harder, and with more precision. By his own admission, the match was lost during these three minutes: “I missed changing tactics in the second round, maybe, being more on my feet”recognized the native of Grande-Synthe after the fight with The Team.

Frustration is allowed, because the Frenchman showed that he was capable of making his opponent waver in the third round. With a right, Ayoub Ghadfa almost lost a victory that could almost no longer escape him. Jumping up to convince the judges that it was only a misstep, the Spaniard quickly put his head back in place and contained the assaults of Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze, who gave his all but lost despite a last round narrowly won (three judges to two).

In the unusually electric atmosphere of Roland-Garros, a few minutes before the final of the virtuoso Sofiane Oumiha, the super-heavyweight wanted to remember only the joy of a course that few predicted : “I am happy to have been able to bring back this bronze medal, happy for France, for the publicput the 28-year-old boxer into perspective after his defeat. I came for a medal, but no one was expecting me because I hadn’t promised anything. […] I lost the fight unfortunately, but I’m happy with everything I’ve done over the years. I’m going to keep some very nice memories.”