The lightweight was the median boxing weight class held as part of the Boxing at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on Wednesday, September 21, 1904 and on Thursday, September 22, 1904. It was the first time the event, like all other boxing events, was held in Olympic competition. Lightweights had to be less than 61.2 kilograms. Eight boxers competed.[1]
1 A well-known local boxer, Carroll Burton, entered the tournament and originally won this bout against Sturholdt. However, officials later discovered that Burton was actually an impostor named James Bollinger; Bollinger was ejected from the competition and Sturholdt was advanced to the next round.[2]
2 Egan won the bout on walkover as Lydon was injured.
3Jack Egan originally won the silver medal in the lightweight competition and the bronze medal in the welterweight competition. Later it was discovered that his real name was Frank Joseph Floyd while the AAU rules made it illegal to fight under an assumed name. In November 1905 the AAU disqualified Egan from all AAU competitions and he had to return all his prizes and medals. Russell van Horn got silver, Peter Sturholdt got bronze in the lightweight competition and Joseph Lydon keeps bronze in the welterweight competition.[3][4]
1904: 125–135 lb (56.7–61.2 kg) · 1908: 126–140 lb (57.2–63.5 kg) · 1920–1936: 126–135 lb (57.2–61.2 kg) · 1948: 58–62 kg · 1952–2008: 57–60 kg · 2012: 56–60 kg · 2016: 57–60 kg · 2020–2024: 58–63 kg · 2024–: 58–63.5 kg