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Galal Yafai – What To Know About the 2020 Men’s Flyweight Olympic Gold Medalist

Galal Yafai seems like a superstar in the making. No other gold medalist showed as much power over their weight class as did Yafai, as he seems like he could fight for a world title quickly, as Great Brittan’s gold medalist, to me looks like a fighter who could take a nation by storm.

Yafai, who is a professional-style power puncher, saw him caught off the ring against his opponents and unload violent body shots to the body, and head.

Yafai started the tournament off on the note that was clearly his focal point, as he stopped Horyun Soghomonyan in the first round. Yafai looked as dominant as ever.

In the second round, Patrick Chinyemba gave Yafai the most issues of the tournament mostly around his awkward body type and ability to avoid the action Yafai looks to create, but Yafai edged a close, 3-2 decision.

Yafai’s most impressive outing was against Cuba’s Yosvany Veitía, as he just never allowed Yosvany Veitía to set distance, and showed him no respect. Someone could scoff at Yafai, and say it is crude, but to force world-level boxers out of avoiding action, is hard, and Yafai brought a fire-fight to Veitia, who couldn’t withstand it.

Yafai in the medal round, nearly was robbed of a spot in the finals as Yafai dominantly beat Saken Bibossinov, but the judges had by a narrow margin. If Yafai hadn’t of gotten this decision, this could’ve been compared to the Michael Conlan decision in Rio 2016, in terms of bad cards.

The finals saw Galal Yafai fight the fight of his life dropping Carlo Paalam early, and never letting him get going. Yafai had a hard bracket, and won fairly and exciting fashion.

Notable facts about Yafai, he has two brothers who are pro boxers, Kal and Gamal Yafai. Yafai didn’t start boxing until ten years ago, at 18-years-old, but said that he fought with his brothers as a child so that was similar in terms of experience to 30 or so amateur fights. Before competing at the Rio 2016 games Yafai quit his job at the car factory.

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Lukie Ketelle

Lukie Ketelle