NBA writer lands in hot water with fans for Imane Khelif take: "Huge flaming pile of human garbage"

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was involved in a controversial moment on Thursday when her Italian opponent Angela Carini decided to stop fighting 46 seconds into their Olympic bout. The two exchanged a couple of hits before the European abandoned the 66-kilogram division duel.

The Italian boxer said that she did not make a political statement or reject the fight against Khelif, who failed a gender eligibility test in 2023.

"I got into the ring to fight," she said, via Italy’s ANSA. "I didn't give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said enough.

"I'm going out with my head held high."

NBA writer Jackson Frank threw his weight behind Khelif, which didn't sit well with many.

"So, this Italian boxer had poor technique, got her ass kicked and now transphobes are using it to spew transphobic bulls**t?

"Bigots will really invent anything to platform their bigotry," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Several fans disagreed with his post and accused Frank of trying to push a narrative to favor Khelif.

"Are you ever not a huge flaming pile of human garbage?" one fan asked him.

"transphobes are using it to spew transphobic bulls**t…about a cisgendered woman 😭 you can’t even write this," another fan said.

"bro trying to be woke so bad. is he getting paid?" another fan asked.

Other fans suggested that Carini was anything but a bad boxer.

"she totally got popped bc her opponent was a man it definitely had nothing to do with her trying to throw a check hook with her hands down," one fan said.

Angela Carini's coach explains why Italian stopped fighting Imane Khelif

After the match, Imane Khelif celebrated and Angela Carini got down on her knees and cried in the middle of the ring. The Italian's coach, Emanuel Renzini, explained what led to the controversial decision.

"It would have been easier not to show up because all of Italy had been asking her not to fight for days," Renzini said. "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."

This has already become one of the major stories in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Khelif advanced to the next round and will face Hungarian boxer Luca Anna Hamori.