Light-Flyweight (≤48 kilograms), Men

The results of the 1989 and 1991 World Championships were identical, with the United States’s Eric Griffin defeating Cuba’s Rogelio Marcelo in the finals, although Marcelo had won the 1991 Pan American Games in Griffin’s absence. Both were in Barcelona and it was expected that they could again meet in the Olympic final, although without seeding the 1992 Olympic draw would have had them meeting in the quarter-finals. But that never came to be mostly because of the new controversial system. In round two Griffin faced Spain’s Rafael Lozano and punished him. All five judges had Griffin ahead in punches landed (19-9, 18-9, 26-17, 8-5, 10-9), but since a punch only counted if three of the five judges pushed their buttons within one second of one another, Griffin was only given credit for five effective punches, and lost the bout, 6-5. With Griffin out, Marcelo had an easy time of it. He defeated Lozano 11-3 in the quarter-finals, and defeated Bulgaria’s Daniel Bozhinov in the final, 24-10.

Bozhinov would come back in 1996 to win Olympic gold in this class, after winning the 1995 World Championship. Marcelo retired after Barcelona. Griffin turned professional but never had much success as a pro. He had one title shot in 1997 for the WBO light-flyweight crown, but lost it, and then retired with a record of 16-4.