Bantamweight (≤54 kilograms), Men

The champion from the Sydney Olympics, Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba, returned to defend his title and was a clear favourite to repeat his gold medal success from 4 years earlier. Rigondeaux had been the undisputed star of the bantamweight class since Sydney but it was his old rival, Ağası Məmmədov, who arrived in Athens as reigning world champion, having upset the Cuban in 2003 in Thailand. Rigondeaux had previously beaten Məmmədov, then fighting for Turkey under the name Ağası Agaguloğlu, on his way to his Olympic triumph in 2000.

In the event Rigondeaux and Məmmədov were not to renew rivalries in Athens as the Azeri fighter fell victim to Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand at the semi-final stage. Rigondeaux’s journey to his 2nd Olympic title was, much like his 1st, relatively uneventful and was lacking a serious challenge from any of his 5 opponents. Even though Thailand had imported a Cuban coach in an attempt to emulate the style and success of the Cuban system, Petchkoom was unable to cope with the long stinging jabs of Rigondeux and was defeated 22 points to 13.

In 2007 Rigondeux and a team mate defected ahead of the Pan American Games in Brazil. They signed a professional contact with a German promoter but he reappeared in Brazil wishing to return to Cuba. Two years later he again defected to Germany and this time did not return home. He eventually based himself in the USA and began a career as a professional which, though 2013, has seen him remain unbeaten and win a world title in the super-bantamweight division.