Olympic champion Khelif to make professional boxing debut in Paris on December 15

Imane Khelif will make her professional debut against Clarida Sarabia in Paris on December 15. | Photo Credit: AFP

Algeria’s Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif will make her professional debut against Clarida Sarabia in Paris on December 15, more than two years after her last competitive appearance.

The 27-year-old announced the super-welterweight contest at a press conference on Friday alongside her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah.

Khelif has not competed since winning women’s welterweight gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024. She had initially planned to return in April, but a training injury forced her to postpone that appearance.

She has since secured a professional licence from the French Boxing Federation and is preparing to begin a new phase of her career.

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“It’s been over two years since I last boxed, and I’ve really missed being in the ring,” Khelif said, acknowledging that the intervening period had been difficult.

Abdesselam expressed confidence in her prospects, suggesting she could challenge for a world title within three to five professional fights.

Khelif’s Olympic triumph was accompanied by a widely publicised controversy surrounding her eligibility to compete in women’s boxing.

In an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe in February, she revealed that she had undergone hormone treatment to lower her testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Games.