Samuel Takyi, Ghana’s 20-year-old young boxer, in an action-packed encounter with Colombian 32-year-old opponent, emerged the victor.
Ghanaian young boxer, Samuel Takyi, defeated Colombia’s David Ceibar Avila to make the semi-final of the boxing event of the 2020 Olympic Games. This guarantees him a medal, which is Ghana’s first Olympic medal in 29 years.
Since the 1992 Games in Barcelona, this is indeed the first time a Ghanaian will mount a medal podium and it is thanks to no other person than Samuel Takyi.
As his inexperience came to bear in the first round, the bout was far from an easy one for young Ghanaian Samuel Takyi.
Despite the 3-2 scoreline by the five-member referee panel shows how close the fight was that is no longer relevant as Takyi can now pride himself in succeeding even though many athletes sent to the Olympic Games have failed to achieve any since 1992.
The Columbian landed decent punches on Takyi in the first round but the Ghanaian having gleaned lessons from the opening round dominated the second and third rounds to keep his Olympic dream alive.
The rules governing boxing at the Olympic Games indicate that losers of the semi-final win bronze medal which means by virtue of making it to the semis, Takyi is a medalist.
He becomes the fourth Ghanaian after Clement Quartey – 1960- Silver, Eddie Blay – 1964- Bronze and Prince Amartey – 1972 – Bronze to win Ghana a medal at the Olympic Games.