Like all Olympic boxing events, the competition was a straight single-elimination tournament.[2] This event consisted of 26 boxers who had qualified for the competition through various qualifying tournaments held in 2015 and 2016. The competition began with a preliminary round on 13 August, where the number of competitors was reduced to 16, and concluded with the final on 21 August. As there were fewer than 32 boxers in the competition, a number of boxers received a bye through the preliminary round. Both semi-final losers were awarded bronze medals.
The original silver medalist, Misha Aloyan of Russia, was disqualified after testing positive for tuaminoheptane.[3] Medals was reallocated with second bronze not awarded.[4]
1904: 105 lb (47.6 kg) · 1920–1936: 112 lb (50.8 kg) · 1948–1964: 51 kg · 1968–2008: 48–51 kg · 2012: 49–52 kg · 2016: 50–52 kg · 2020–2024: up to 52 kg · 2024–: up to 51 kg
