GALAL YAFAI will fight for Olympics gold after a hard-fought and entertaining semi-final display at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 28-year-old from Birmingham reached the final on Saturday after beating Kazak Saken Bibossinov by a split decision at the Kokugikan Arena.
He will fight the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam for gold, aiming to win the first title for Team GB at these Games.
The southpaw will now try to go one better than his elder brothers Khalid Yafai and Gamal Yafai, who have both boxed professionally.
Khalid, 32, represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing but was unable to make it past the Last-16 stage.
Yafai is a much better fighter than the one everyone saw at the 2016 Rio Olympics when he was eliminated in the Last 16 by Cuban boxer Joahnys Argilagos.
The Brummie went to Brazil having quit his job at a Land Rover car factory in Solihull that same year and had only trained for those Games for six months.
It was a lively first round with both flyweights on the front foot and throwing plenty of punches.
Yafai led on the scorecards of all five judges, thanks in part to one brilliant left punch which hit the Kazak flush in the face.
I always thought, ‘I’d love to be in an Olympic final.’ And I’m in one now
Galal Yafai
Bibossinov had a much stronger second round and reduced the deficit heading into the third and final round.
The Kazak started celebrating towards the end of the right but had the smile wiped off his face when the result came in.
And he left the ring in tears after Yafai was named the winner.
An elated Yafai said of his reaching of the final, It’s ridiculous, I can’t believe it.
“It’s like a dream. I always thought, ‘I’d love to be in an Olympic final.’ And I’m in one now.
“I’ve just got one more hurdle to get over, and that’s to beat the Philippines and go and win gold.”
Yafai knew from a young age he’d be in an Olympic final, adding: “Always. We’d talk about it at home.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“And now I’m fighting in front of everyone.
“My mum, my family and my friends [with] the whole team, the whole world watching me in the Olympic final.
“I’ve just got to deliver the goods and take that gold medal back home.”
DREAM TEAM 2021/22
PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON
- £100,000 prize pot up for grabs
- £50million budget to build your best XI
- Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
- Click here to play for FREE
- Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
