Samuel Takyi: Boxer wins Ghana’s first Olympic medal in 29 years

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Ghanaian amateur boxer Samuel Takyi has won his Olympic quarter-final to guarantee himself a medal at Tokyo 2020, a first Olympic medal for a Ghanaian athlete in 29 years.

Takyi beat Colombia’s 32-year-old southpaw David Ceiber Avila, a far more experienced fighter, in the quarter-final, taking two of three rounds to send the Ghanaian contingent in the stands wild.

Similar celebrations were happening across Ghana on a historic day in the ring, and they may get louder as Takyi moves on to the semi final where he’ll face the USA’s Ragan Duke.

Duke eliminated Irish boxer, Kurt Walker, in his quarter-final bout.

The 20-year-old has caused a sensation by making the podium after his selection for the boxing team in Tokyo initially caused eyebrows to raise.

Now it’s hands in the air as “The Golden Ring Warrior” has brought it home, the first Olympic medal since the football team won bronze at Barcelona 1992.

And the first boxing medal since middleweight Prince Amartey who took the bronze in Munch 1972.

Takyi joins Ghanaian Olympic greats Clement Quartey, a light welterweight who won silver in Rome 1960, Eddie Blay a bronze light welterweight medallist from Tokyo 1964 and Prince Amartey who made history in Munch 1972.

Samuel Takyi vs. Duke Ragan is on Tuesday, August 3, 11:30 am JST. That’s Tuesday, August 3, 2:30 am in Ghana.

Ghana’s gold-medal threat Samuel Takyi will fight the USA’s Duke Ragan on Tuesday 3 August 11:30 JST.