Wyatt Sanford Secures Canada's First Olympic Boxing Medal in 28 Years

Olympic Boxing Update: Wyatt Sanford's Milestone Achievement for Canada

Wyatt Sanford celebrates his win against Uzbekistan's Ruslan Abdullaev, advancing him to the semi-finals.

In a historic moment for boxing in Canada, Wyatt Sanford has secured a place in the semifinals, ensuring he will be the country's first Olympic boxing medallist in 28 years. The only question remaining is the color of the medal he will bring home.

Sanford clinched his victory in the men’s 63.5kg weight class quarterfinals on Thursday, triumphing over Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Abdullaev with a 4-1 decision.

“I feel on top of the world,” Sanford exclaimed joyfully. “After a 28-year drought, we’re finally bringing a medal home to Canada. But I know Canada wants the gold, and I’m determined to deliver. Just two more wins, and we can achieve it.”

A win in his upcoming semifinal on Sunday will give Sanford a shot at the gold medal. A loss, however, will see him return to Kennetcook, Nova Scotia, with a bronze. This marks his second Olympic appearance, following his first-round exit at Tokyo 2020.

During the quarterfinal bout, Abdullaev initially took the lead, winning over three out of five judges in the first round. However, Sanford quickly adapted and found his rhythm. He secured victories from three judges in the second round and four in the third round.

“We knew he liked to throw multiple shots, not just one or two punches. He favors combinations. So, the plan was to cut off his jab and stop his attacks with my hook,” Sanford explained. “It took a bit of time in the first round to start landing the right hook, but once I did, it halted his momentum. He wasn't throwing as much as he did early in the fight, and we figured him out.”

Sanford planned to spend the rest of the day celebrating and relaxing before shifting his focus to semifinal preparations. “I’m sure the reality will hit once I see my parents. I’ll be even more thrilled,” he said. The following morning, he will start analyzing his next opponent and strategizing for the semifinal match.

Canada has a rich history in Olympic boxing, with 17 medals won over the years. The last medal was in 1996 at the Atlanta Games when David Defiagbon took silver in the men’s heavyweight division.