Wyatt Sanford has guaranteed Canada a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after defeating Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Abdullaev 4-1 in a crunch quarter final clash on Thursday. This will be Canuc’s first medal in boxing since Atlanta 1996 when David Defiagbon took silver in the men’s heavyweight event.
The men’s 63.5-kg quarter-final clash began emphatically with Ruslan Abdullaev taking the lead in the first round after winning three of the five judges. Even though Sanford had to deal with early pressure, he fought back in the second round to win three of the five judges. After that, it was only one way traffic as the Canadian dominated by winning the third round with four judges.

With a medal guaranteed at Paris 2024, it remains to be seen whether Wyatt Sanford go for the gold or settle for anything below that. The 25-year-old will return to the field on Sunday, though the opponent is still unknown. If Salford manages to win the semifinal clash on Sunday, he will have the opportunity to fight for the gold medal on August 7.
Wyatt Sanford is the sole representative in the men’s boxing in two consecutive Olympics. In the last few years, he has made remarkable progress. He grabbed the gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games which secured his direct passage to the Paris 2024 Olympics. After the disappointment he suffered in Tokyo where he was eliminated in the first round, he has made the nation proud with his performance.
This win marks a tremendous achievement for the boxing unit as they hunt for the gold medal after 28 years. Their last medal came in 1996 when David Defiagbon won the silver medal in the men’s heavyweight event in Atlanta. Lennox Lewis was the last boxer to bring a medal in the Olympics after winning the heavyweight gold medal in 1988.
Rowing Team in Paris 2024 Finals
Elsewhere, it was a good day for the Canadian team as they secured medals on Thursday to take their tally to 7. Canada’s reigning women’s rowing team has also qualified for the finals after finishing second in Thursday’s repechage. They now have the chance to win gold again on Saturday to successfully defend their record.
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