Brahim Asloum Added a Professional Crown to His Olympic Gold
Brahim Asloum defeated Juan Carlos Reveco in France on December 8, 2007, to become WBA light flyweight champion. The victory added a professional world title to the French boxer’s gold medal from the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Career highlights
Born in Bourgoin-Jallieu on January 31, 1979, Asloum represented France in the 48-kilogram division in Sydney. He defeated Cuba’s Maikro Romero in the semifinal and Spain’s Rafael Lozano in the final, ending France’s sixty-four-year wait for Olympic boxing gold.
His professional championship breakthrough came against Reveco, an Argentine titleholder. Asloum won a unanimous decision, completing another major success in the light flyweight division.
The final professional chapter
Asloum returned to action against Humberto Pool in April 2009 after a long absence from the ring. He knocked Pool out in the third round at Le Cannet, France. He announced his retirement later that year, closing a career that linked amateur Olympic success with professional world championship recognition.
Asloum’s Sydney run also included victories over Egypt’s Mohamed Rezkalla, American Brian Viloria and South Korea’s Kim Ki-Suk. His semifinal against Romero was especially close, ending 13–12, before a clearer 23–10 victory over Lozano in the final. Working with Louis Acariès in his professional career, he eventually joined the small group of French Olympic champions who also won a professional world title.
Sources
- Olympedia: Asloum’s background and Olympic gold medal
- BoxRec: Asloum’s Olympic opponents and retirement
- La Dépêche: Asloum defeats Reveco by unanimous decision
- World Boxing Association: Asloum’s 2009 victory over Pool
