Olympic boxing controversy revisited as Park returns 1988 gold medal to Roy Jones Jr.

The Seoul Olympic light-middleweight final in 1988 ended with a 3-2 decision for Park Si-Hun, a verdict later deemed one of the sport’s most controversial and leading to the suspension of judges Alberto Duran, Hiduad Larbi and Bob Kasule. The outcome altered Olympic boxing scoring and left Roy Jones Jr. without the gold he believed he earned. On May 30, 2023, Park flew from South Korea to Pensacola, Florida, and privately presented the medal to Jones, a moment that only became public in late 2025.

Jones, now a Hall of Famer, described the gift as profoundly emotional, while Park said the act helped ease his decades-long guilt. Their families, including Park’s son Rei and Jones’s late son DeAndre, have also spoken about the personal toll the controversy took. The two former rivals now maintain contact and are exploring joint projects about their shared history.