Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif is set to step back into the ring for her professional boxing debut on December 15 in Paris. The 27-year-old Algerian fighter will face Clarida Sarabia in the super-welterweight division, marking her first competitive bout since securing the welterweight gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Khelif holds a professional license from the French boxing federation. Her return to the ring was previously delayed due to a training injury that postponed a planned April comeback. During a press conference alongside her coach, Kamel Abdesselam, and promoter Yacin Berrabah, Khelif expressed her eagerness to compete again. "It’s been over two years since I last boxed, and I’ve really missed being in the ring," she said. "The last couple of years have been quite difficult. The time has come to turn professional, and I’m going to give it my all."
The athlete's career has drawn intense international scrutiny. Following her success at the 2024 Olympics, Khelif was at the center of a major gender eligibility controversy. Born female, Khelif naturally carries the SRY gene on the Y chromosome. In February, she shared in an interview with the French sports daily L’Equipe that she underwent hormonal treatment to reduce her testosterone levels prior to the Paris Games.
Looking ahead to her professional career, Abdesselam expressed high ambitions for Khelif, estimating she could contend for a world title within three to five fights.
