Light-Flyweight (≤48 kilograms), Men

None of the medalists from the 1982 World Championships were present in Los Angeles, partly because of the Soviet-led boycott, which left this class wide open. The American entrant was Paul Gonzales, Jr., who had won silver at the 1983 Pan American Games, behind Puerto Rico’s Rafael Ramos. Ramos went out in the quarter-finals, losing a majority decision to Italy’s Salvatore Todisco, the 1983 European Amateur silver medalist. Gonzales advanced to the final, as did Todisco, but Todisco had broken a thumb in defeating Zambia’s Keith Mwila in the semis, and could not contest the final, giving Gonzales the gold medal by walkover. He was also given the Val Barker Trophy as the best boxer at the 1984 Olympic Games. For Gonzales, it was a redemption for a life that had started in Los Angeles ghettoes and saw him use boxing to escape from a gang life. He turned professional in 1985 and fought as a pro through 1991, getting several title shots, but never managing to win one, and he finished with a career record of 16 wins and 4 losses.