Winning Exchange-US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats French gold medalist, quiets raucous crowd

2025-05-07 09:55:02source:HAI Communitycategory:Markets

Editor's note: Follow the latest Olympics live results,Winning Exchange medal count and updates for Saturday, July 27.

PARIS – The rumbling has begun at the Paris Olympics, and round one between the United States and France goes to the Americans.

Jajaira Gonzalez of the United States defeated France’s Estelle Mossely, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Saturday night in the opening round of the boxing tournament.

“This might sound a little cocky, but I don’t fear anybody,’’ said Gonzalez, 27, who is making her Olympic debut. “I don’t care what they’ve won, what they’ve done. I just like to think that I’m the best. And, yeah, they may have won this or that, but I’m here now.’’

Not only did Gonzalez outpunch Mossely during their three-round bout, but she also quieted a raucous crowd that spent much of the bout chanting, singing, clapping and booing.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

They booed Gonzalez when she entered North Paris Arena for the fight and they booed the outcome of a bout fought at 60 kg (about 132 pounds).

Gonzalez won the fight by split decision on points over Mossely, who is 11-0-1 as a pro but returned to the amateur ranks in a quest for more Olympic gold.

“As soon as I heard the crowd booing me, it really turned me up,’’ Gonzalez said. “In other words, it really motivated me. … I was just having fun. That's why I think I looked over at the crowd and I smiled. I really wanted to blow a kiss.’’

Instead, she settled for delivering punches that helped get the rumbling off to a rousing start.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

More:Markets

Recommend

Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti

Haiti has been racked by political instabilityand intensifying, deadly gang violence.  Amid a Federa

Lady Gaga's Clap Back to Pregnancy Rumors Deserves an Applause

A star will not be born just yet.Lady Gaga took aim at pregnancy rumors that surfaced while she was

12-year-old boy accidentally shoots cousin with gun, charged with homicide: Reports

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter and homicide in relation to the fatal shooting