Boxer Samuel Takyi ended Ghana’s 29 year long wait for an Olympic medal with an energetic come-from-behind victory against Colombia’s David Avila Ceiber in the featherweight division of the Olympic boxing event in Tokyo.
Trailing the 32-year old southpaw Colombian on all the judge’s scorecards going into the last round, 20-year-old Takyi fought back to smash the two-time Olympian into submission, and successfully overturned the result to clinch a 3-2 split decision victory in the early hours of Sunday, August 1, 2021.
Takyi is now guaranteed at least a bronze medal after securing a semifinal place even before he takes on American Duke Ragan in the semi final fight on Tuesday August 3.
In boxing at the Olympics, both losing semi finals are awarded bronze medals, meaning Takyi will get a medal irrespective of the outcome of his semi final fight.
The will be the West Afican country’s first Olympic medal since the Black Meteors won bronze at the 1992 games in Barcelona.
The medal is also the fourth at the games for Ghana in the boxing event, with Takyi joining the illustrious group of Clement Quartey – 1960- Silver, Eddie Blay – 1964- Bronze and Prince Amartey – 1972 – Bronze, as the only men to ever win Ghana an individual olympic medal.
The 20-year-old started the bout on the wrong foot as he was overwhelmed by the experienced Colombian boxer, Ávila Ceiber who got all five judges scoring for him.
The second round was much better by Samuel Takyi who used his height to his advantage; catching his 31-year-old opponent off-guard regularly to get three judges scoring for him.
And when it mattered most, the Ghanaian delivered in his Olympic Games debut.
He kept his calm while delivering some perfect punches on Ceiber Segura, who kept on winding down the clock with some shrewd tactics.
See the judges’ score sheet here:
