OLYMPIC CHAMPION GALAL YAFAI SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM

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 are 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.”