Boxing made its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games, with Oliver Kirk becoming the only boxer to win two gold medals at a single Olympics.
Key Facts
- Number of events contested
- 7
- Competition dates
- September 21–22, 1904
- Olympic debut
- First appearance of boxing at the Olympics
- Oliver Kirk gold medals
- Bantamweight and featherweight (same Olympics)
- Women's boxing demonstration
- Held; women's boxing added to Olympics in 2012
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis sought to expand its athletic program by introducing combat sports. Boxing was included for the first time, reflecting growing interest in the sport as a competitive discipline worthy of international competition.
Seven boxing weight-class events were contested on September 21–22, 1904, with all competitors being American. Oliver Kirk won both the bantamweight and featherweight titles, and a demonstration bout of women's boxing was also staged alongside the official competitions.
Boxing became a permanent fixture of the Olympic program, and Oliver Kirk's double gold remains a unique record. The women's boxing demonstration foreshadowed the sport's eventual inclusion in the 2012 Olympics, over a century later.
Result
at 1904 Summer Olympics, St. Louis