Featherweights were limited to those boxers weighing a maximum of 57 kilograms (125.7 lbs).

After a successful protest by American officials, Robinson was awarded silver.

The losing semifinalists, Philip Waruinge from Kenya and Ivan Mihailov from Bulgaria, both received bronze medals.

Like all Olympic boxing events, the competition was a straight single-elimination tournament.

Both semifinal losers were awarded bronze medals, so no boxers competed again after their first loss.