Italian boxer Angela Carini insisted she has “never felt a punch like this” after her preliminary round of 16 bout against Algerian Imane Khelif was abandoned after just 46 seconds.

The build-up to the fight was marred by controversy following the inclusion of Khelif, who was one of two athletes cleared to compete in the women’s boxing after being disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi for failing to meet the necessary gender eligibility criteria.

Khelif throwing a punch at Carini
Khelif in action against Carini (AP Photo/John Locher)

During Thursday’s match, Khelif landed a few good shots, including a huge punch to Carini’s face.

The Italian then went over to her corner and subsequently signalled that she was unable to carry on due to pain in her nose, leading to the fight being abandoned with two minutes and 14 seconds left in the first round.

Her coach, Emanuele Renzini, said afterwards: “She felt pain in her nose and said to me ‘I don’t want to fight anymore’.”

Carini was pictured in floods of tears afterwards and said she was unable to continue for her health.

She said: “It hurt so much. I am heartbroken. I went to the ring to honour my father.

“I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior, but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this.

Angela Carini reacting in the ring
Angela Carini was in tears post-fight (AP Photo/John Locher)

“After the second blow, and after years of experience in the ring and a lifetime of fighting, I felt extreme pain in my nose.

“I said ‘enough’ because I didn’t want to… I couldn’t carry on in the match. I thought maybe it was better that I brought an end to the match.

“I went to my corner and raised my hand and said I’d had enough because my nose hurt so much.

“I’ve always gone into the ring with honour, I’ve always fought for my country, loyally, but this time I couldn’t as I wasn’t able to fight anymore.”

Khelif has previously competed at Tokyo 2020, but finished just outside of the medal positions.

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting is the other fighter who also had questions raised about her eligibility for the Games.

Imane Khelif post-fight in the boxing ring with her headguard and gloves off
Khelif has progressed to the next round of the competition (AP Photo/John Locher)

She faces Sitora Turdibekova in the women’s 57kg category on Friday.

Renzini insisted that Carini was adamant ahead of the fight that she would face Khelif for as long as she could.

He said: “It would have been easier not to show up, because all of Italy had been asking her not to fight for days. But Angela was motivated and wanted to do it.

“Of course when she met her opponent at the draw, she said ‘it’s not fair’.

“But there was no premeditation here today. She quit after taking one punch, she told me she didn’t feel she could fight.

“I tried to tell her to at least get to the end of the first round so we would fight, but she wouldn’t.”

Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said all competitors comply with the eligibility rules for the Olympics (Martin Rickett/PA)

Mark Adams, IOC spokesperson, said on Thursday morning that those competing in the boxing are compliant with the eligibility rules.

He told a press conference: “What I’d repeat is all the competitors comply with the competition eligibility rules and that’s as it should be.

“That’s how these boxers concerned have taken part in these Games, have taken part in previous World Championships, have taken part in previous Olympic Games, have taken part in regional and continental competitions.

“They comply with the eligibility rules and I think that’s as it should be and how it can be.”