The much-awaited
Olympic Games are on the horizon and fans are getting ready to watch their
favourite athletes battle it out against the best in the world for a chance to
win the ultimate honour for themselves and their country.

The boxing
competition in the Tokyo Olympics will take place from July 24 to August 8.
Here is a look at the top contenders this year:

MC Mary Kom (India)

Mary Kom won
the bronze medal in the flyweight category in the 2012 London Olympics and has
been at the forefront of getting women’s boxing into the Olympics. Now at 38, she
is set to feature in her final Olympics.

This year,
the mother of four is looking to add another Olympic medal to her six world championship
titles and her gold medals from the Asian and Commonwealth Games. 

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Julio Cesar
La Cruz (Cuba)

Also known
as ‘La Sombra’ or ‘The Shadow’, La Cruz is one of the most exiting fighters in
the sport right now. The 31-year-old won gold at the Rio Games in 2016 and has
four amateur world titles in light-heavyweight category.

Shakhobidin Zoirov (Uzbekistan)

Zoirov won gold
in the flyweight category at the Rio Games in 2016 with Uzbekistan emerging as
the country with the most boxing medals. He also won the 2019 world title. He
will look to defend his title this year.

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Lauren Price (Britain)

26-year-old
Lauren Price is the reigning world and European games heavyweight champion. She
is now eyeing an Olympic gold for Britain, like former boxer Nicola Adams. Price
was a former kickboxer and footballer for Wales.

Eumir Marcial (Philippines)

25-year-old
Eumir Marcial is eyeing his country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. He has
been likened with his country’s greatest ever-boxer Manny Pacquiao, and is preparing
for Tokyo under former boxer and multiple world champion Freddie Roach.