OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Nov 2025
Boxing was not included in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics because Swedish law at the time banned the sport. The local organizing committee for the Stockholm Games found the sport disagreeable with the national policy and decided to exclude it in the Olympic program.
This situation compelled the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules, limiting the power of host nations in choosing the Olympic sports program in the future Games. Except for the Stockholm Olympics, boxing has been contested in every other Summer Olympics since its debut in 1904 in St. Louis.
The 1916 Summer Olympics, scheduled for Berlin, Germany, were canceled due to the outbreak of World War I. This marked the first time in the modern Olympic history that an Olympic Games was not held, though the world's biggest sporting event retained its official designation as the Games of the VI Olympiad for the continuity of the numbering sequence.
When the Olympic Games resumed after the war, Antwerp, Belgium was awarded the right to host the 1920 Summer Games.
Medals were awarded in eight weight categories. The competitions were held from August 21-24.
A total of 116 boxers from 12 nations competed at the Antwerp Games:
Argentina (1)
Belgium (13)
Canada (8)
Denmark (12)
France (15)
Great Britain (16)
Italy (5)
Netherlands (8)
Norway (14)
South Africa (7)
Switzerland (1)
United States (16)
The winners were:
Flyweight
(−50.8 kg / 112 lb)
Gold - Frankie Genaro (United States)
Silver - Anders Petersen (Denmark)
Bronze - William Cuthbertson (Great Britain)
Bantamweight
(−53.5 kg / 118 lb)
Gold - Clarence Walker (South Africa)
Silver - Chris Graham (Canada)
Bronze - George McKenzie (Great Britain)
Featherweight
(−57.2 kg / 126 lb)
Gold - Paul Fritsch (France)
Silver - Jean Gachet (France)
Bronze - Edoardo Garzena (Italy)
Lightweight
(−61.2 kg / 135 lb)
Gold - Samuel Mosberg (United States)
Silver - Gotfred Johansen (Denmark)
Bronze - Clarence Newton (Canada)
Welterweight
(−66.7 kg / 147 lb)
Gold - Bert Schneider (Canada)
Silver - Alexander Ireland (Great Britain)
Bronze - Frederick Colberg (United States)
Middleweight
(−72.6 kg / 160 lb)
Gold - Harry Mallin (Great Britain)
Silver - Georges Prud'Homme (Canada)
Bronze - Moe Herscovitch (Canada)
Light heavyweight
(−79.4 kg / 175 lb)
Gold - Eddie Eagan (United States)
Silver - Sverre Sørsdal (Norway)
Bronze - Harold Franks (Great Britain)
Heavyweight
(over 79.4 kg/175 lb)
Gold - Ronald Rawson (Great Britain)
Silver - Søren Petersen (Denmark)
Bronze - Albert Eluère (France)
Medal standings
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States (USA ) 3 0 1 4
2 Great Britain (GBR ) 2 1 3 6
3 Canada (CAN) 1 2 2 5
4 France (FRA) 1 1 1 3
5 South Africa (RSA) 1 0 0 1
6 Denmark (DEN ) 0 3 0 3
7 Norway (NOR ) 0 1 0 1
8 Italy (ITA) 0 0 1 1
Photo: France's Paul Fritsch who won the gold medal in the Featherweight category at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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