Light-Flyweight (≤48 kilograms), Men

This was a new class in 1968 as light-flyweight was added to the Olympic boxing program. The winner was the Venezuelan Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez, who won the first gold medal ever for Venezuela. He achieved this despite breaking his thumb in the final round of the final bout, still hanging on to defeat Korea’s Ji Yong-Ju. Rodríguez then attempted to turn professional, signing a contract, but after his mother watched a professional fight, and saw one boxer’s bloody mouthpiece fly out and land in her lap, she implored him not to fight, and he abandoned the contract. Jee would win the 1970 Asian Games flyweight title, and later became a coach. He died in 1985 after being stabbed in a fight with his neighbor.