Samuel Takyi Engrossed On Becoming A Boxing Legend
19 year old Samuel Takyi is the youngest amateur boxer to represent Ghana at the 2020 Olympic Games.
After early education at St. Mary’s Nursery & Preparatory School, he continued at Bishop Mixed Junior High School and landed into the school of boxing, at the Discipline Gym, before graduating into the Black Bombers, the national boxing team.
In an exclusive interview with Yours Truly, the Olympic Games bound young pugilist who loves to be called ‘The Ring Warrior’ revealed that he is talented in sports but chose boxing which is the most loved sport in his neighbourhood at Usher and James Town.
According to the clever young man, he has been training as a boxer for the past 10 years under coaches Kwesi Ampofo and Martey.
“I started boxing at age 8, and had to chose between boxing and football, where I was also very good as a fast and dribbling winger”
“My coaches are boxing people and where I live was a boxing community with many boxing gyms, so it was very easy becoming a boxer, and I know boxing can make me rich and travel, so I think I am cool”
“Qualifying into the national team was a surprise, but I went though hard work, people didn’t know and expect me, but I had a target and I made it into the Black Bombers as a new entrant and when we went for the Olympic Games Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal I placed third and earned the qualification ticket to Japan” he expressed
He said Dakar was his first international tournament and when they were going, the Black Bombers went through many difficulties, which could demoralize them, however the team was eager and determined to make name for themselves, and that got five of them reaching the quarter finals stage, but the lost at the semi finals due to lack of exposure and experience.
He missed the final but was able to reach the semi final, and fought brilliantly in the bronze medal match to win in grand style against highly tipped Isaac Masembe of Uganda in the Men’s Featherweight (52-57kg).
His record is over 50 fights locally, with 4 international bouts all in Senegal.
“It was my most memorable day in boxing as I qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games, and I can not wait to be at the biggest sports festival in the world to defend the flag of Ghana” he said.
He gave praise to national coach Dr. Ofori Asare and the GBF President George Lamptey for their guidance and encouragement as well as all his fans who have been encouraging him at training.
On the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games, he hinted that he was sad to hear, but when it was explained that a sickness called coronavirus has hit the world, he understood that life is important and precious.
He was worried about his weight, but was encouraged to train daily and keep on checking on the scale regularly.
On returning from the Dakar Qualifier, the Black Bombers have not got any per diem from the Ministry of Youth & Sports, and that is his worry, because if they were footballers they would be treated differently.
He appealed to the Youth & Sports Minister to look at the plight of boxers in Ghana and offer them some motivation, as boxing has given the nation all the best sporting honours with 10 world champions, and the young boxers are also ready to make history.
His idol is Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey, former WBA welterweight champion, and his best dish is rice and stew.
Born to Madam Eunice Smith, a fish monger at Makola Market and Godfred Takyi a cloth trader, he has an ambition to change the socio economic situation of his family and make them happy in future.
By Sammy Heywood Okine