Jyri Kjäll was the best Finnish boxer of the 1990s. During his amateur career, which lasted from 1987-94, Kjäll won a Finnish title for five consecutive years, from 1990-93 in light-welterweight and in 1994 in welterweight. Kjäll also competed at the 1991 European Championships, 1992 Olympic Games and 1991 and 1993 World Championships. In 1991, Kjäll was eliminated in the first round at the Europeans and in the quarter-finals at the Worlds, but in 1992, he surprised everyone by winning a bronze medal at the Olympics, losing his semi-final bout to eventual gold medal winner Héctor Vinent from Cuba by decision. In 1993, Kjäll reached the final at the World Championships, but again lost to Vinent and had to settle for a silver medal. In 1994 Kjäll turned professional and won the IBF Inter-Continental welterweight title in 2001, but retired from boxing the following year with a record of 23 wins (KO 18) and 1 loss by knockout. After finishing his sporting career, Kjäll worked as a manager of various sporting facilities in Helsinki. Kjäll was selected to the Finnish Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Finland