Press Release: By DAZN January 27,
2022 – Tokyo
2020 gold medallist makes pro debut on February 27th Credit: DAZN
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion Galal
Yafai MBE has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s
Matchroom Boxing and will make his highly anticipated professional debut on the
Lawrence Okolie vs. Michal Cieslak WBO Cruiserweight World Title show at The O2
in London on Sunday February 27, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding
New Zealand and Australia).
Birmingham’s Yafai fulfilled his lifelong
dream and became Olympic Champion as he brilliantly won Team GB’s first boxing
gold of Tokyo 2020, impressively outpointing the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam to
secure gold in the Flyweight division – Britain’s 19th gold medal of the Games.
Yafai comes from a proud boxing family, with
old brothers Kal and Gamal having successful careers in the professional ranks
after beginning as amateurs. 2008 Olympian Kal won a European silver medal in
2010 before turning pro and winning the WBA Super-Flyweight World Title in
2016, with Gamal winning Commonwealth and European Titles.
"The goal now is to win a World
Title," said Yafai. "I know there’s not many who have won
Olympic Gold and then a World Title so hopefully I can add my name to that
list. There’s some great current World Champions out there at the minute,
I’m not going to call out any names but my time will come - I have set my
sights on being at the very top.
"I’ve boxed all over the World with Team
GB, it’s made me into a better fighter no doubt. I’ve fought and sparred with
many styles which will stand me in good stead in the pro game. Eyes will
be on me as a pro but I thrive on the pressure and it’s a really exciting time
to be entering this new chapter of my career.
"I remember standing on the podium with
the National Anthem playing with the medal around my neck, it was a surreal
moment. I enjoyed my time in Tokyo and now I’m ready for the next step. Matchroom
are the biggest promotional company in the world. I’ve known Eddie for years
obviously with all the shows with my brothers so it was the best fit for me to
become a World Champion."
“I’m over the moon to secure the signature of
Olympic Gold Medallist Galal Yafai and we welcome him with open arms to the
Matchroom Boxing and DAZN team,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Galal was the standout British fighter at the Games and we
have a long-standing relationship with his brothers, so it was personally very
important to me to get this done.
“Galal is going to do things very differently,
for his professional debut at The O2 we are looking for him to challenge for
his first professional title and from there move quickly to a World Title which
we expect him to win across multiple divisions. This young man is an
exceptional talent and you are going to be able to watch him on the biggest
shows all over the world live on DAZN.”
Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with
permission.
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