Boxing at the 1924 Paris Summer Games:

Willie Smith of South Africa, like flyweight champion LaBarba, was a mere 19 years old when he became Olympic champion. Smith, who learned boxing at the orphanage where he was raised, fought with a cautious approach to outpoint Al Tripoli of the USA in the final. As a professional he went to win a version of the World bantamweight title. Frenchman Jean Ces’ bronze medal was the only boxing medal won by the host nation in 1924.

Of the 20 bouts contested in the division all bar one were decided by judges’ decision. The American Joe Lazarus was the unlucky victim of disqualification in his bout against Oscar Andrén of Sweden. The Swede was knocked out but the referee, Sigel of France, ruled Lazarus had struck his opponent illegally, disobeying instructions to step back from a clinch. Sigel would later apologize to US team officials for his mistaken decision but despite the urging of Andrén and Swedish team officials, no appeal was made.