Bantamweight (≤54 kilograms), Men

The favorite was the Soviet fighter Oleg Grigoryev, who had been 1957 European Champion and Soviet Champion in 1958. In the third round he won a highly disputed decision over Britain’s Frankie Taylor, 3-2. The British team protested and although it was not allowed, the three judges who voted for Grigoryev were removed from the Olympic boxing tournament. Grigoryev won his gold medal by defeating Italy’s Primo Zamparini in the final match, winning another 3-2 split decision. Grigoryev would go on to win the 1962 European bantamweight title, and the 1961 and 1962 World Army titles. Zamparini won a silver at the 1961 European championships.