Imane Khelif vs Clarida Sarabia set for Olympic champion's pro debut in Paris on December 15

Olympic champion Imane Khelif will make her professional boxing debut against Clarida Sarabia in Paris on December 15, 2026. The 27-year-old Algerian announced the bout at a press conference in the French capital on Friday, November 6, alongside her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah.

Imane Khelif vs Clarida Sarabia will take place at the Maison de la Mutualité and is scheduled for six two-minute rounds at super-welterweight, according to Le Figaro and AFP. It will be Khelif's first competitive appearance since she won women's welterweight gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Delayed start to her pro career

Khelif holds a women's professional licence from the French Boxing Federation. She had originally planned to debut in April, but a training injury forced her to postpone that appearance, AFP reported.

"It's been over two years since I last boxed, and I've really missed being in the ring," Khelif said at the press conference, according to AFP. "The last couple of years have been quite difficult. The time has come to turn professional, and I'm going to give it my all."

A step up in weight

Khelif won her Olympic title in the women's 66kg division. For the debut she moves up to super-welterweight, where the limit is 69.8kg, per Le Figaro.

Sarabia is licensed in the Netherlands. Abdesselam described her to Le Figaro as "an undefeated high-level opponent with four wins and four knockouts, so it's a real risk, but we have confidence in Imane."

Big ambitions from her team

Abdesselam said he believes Khelif can fight for a world title "within three to five fights" and compared her to Muhammad Ali, according to AFP. "We want to put Imane on top of the world," he said.

According to French reports, Khelif's team also indicated she does not plan to defend her Olympic title at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, with her coach advising her to focus on the professional ranks instead. The Independent likewise reported that her coach said she has no interest in returning to the Olympics, even though Khelif had previously spoken about wanting to compete in LA.

Background

Khelif was at the centre of a global gender-eligibility row during the Paris Olympics, after being disqualified from the 2023 amateur world championships by the International Boxing Association. She has repeatedly stated that she is not transgender. AFP noted that in February she told French sports daily L'Equipe she had undergone hormonal treatment to lower her testosterone levels before the Paris Games.

She has not boxed since Paris 2024 and was unable to enter World Boxing's tournament in Eindhoven in June 2025 after the federation introduced mandatory chromosome testing a week before the event, Le Figaro reported. Turning professional under a French licence now gives her a path back into the ring outside the Olympic system.

What's next

• Event: Imane Khelif vs Clarida Sarabia, six rounds, super-welterweight
• Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2026
• Venue: Maison de la Mutualité, Paris, France
• Promoter: Yacin Berrabah

Further undercard details and broadcast information have not yet been announced.