Lightweight (≤60 kilograms), Men

The clear favourite in the lightweight division was Leonard Doroftei, a Romanian who held both the world and European titles and who already had an Olympic bronze medal from Barcelona. However, Doroftei came unstuck in the semi-final against Hocine Soltani of Algeria and had to settle for another bronze medal. Soltani’s opponent for the gold medal was the European Championship silver medallist Toncho Tonchev, a Roma (Gypsy) from Bulgaria. The final failed to live up to expectations and degenerated into a tedious contest between the fleet footed but cautious Algerian and an opponent who was unable cope with Soltani’s agility. With the score at 2-1 to Soltani in the final round he was penalised two points by the referee but he soon scored with a left cross to level matters. No further scoring punches were recorded and the gold was decided on count back by 20 to 16 in the Algerian’s favour. This was his nation’s first Olympic gold medal in the sport.

Soltani turned professional in 1998 and had four wins before suddenly and unexpectedly quitting the sport in 2000. He was reported as being missing in 2002 and nothing more was heard of him until his dead body was found near Marseilles two years later. The circumstances of his disappearance are still a mystery.