Light-Welterweight (≤63.5 kilograms), Men

Since before the Barcelona Games the 1992 Olympic Champion Héctor Vinent of Cuba had reigned supreme in the light-welterweight division and had won both the 1993 and 1995 World Championship titles. His only major defeat during this period was at the 1995 Pan-American Games in Argentina where he lost a debatable decision to the host nation’s Walter Crucce. Crucce did not compete in Atlanta as he decided to pursue a career as a professional in late 1995.

Vinent started his campaign with a knockout victory then had three successive easy points wins which yielded an aggregate points score of 63 against 14. In the opposite corner for the gold medal bout was Oktay Urkal, A German of Turkish heritage, who had been crowned European champion earlier in the year. The Cuban used his reach advantage to pick off the onrushing Urkal and, when the German threatened to take advantage on the inside, Vinent returned his punches with interest. He fought on for another four years in the hope of winning a third Olympic gold in Sydney but failed to make the Olympic team in 2000