GALAL YAFAI may be the most inexperienced member of the GB team, but he became their first male boxer to qualify for the Rio 2016. An international newcomer, inexperienced, he was a surprise selection for the European Qualification Event. But the Birmingham southpaw proved his worth defeating Samuel Carmona Heredia by unanimous decision in the semi-final in Samsun, Turkey to win a 49kgs place at the Olympic Games in August.
Bantamweight Qais Ashfaq joins Yafai as a 2016 Olympian. He raced ahead winning the first two rounds against Mykola Butsenko. The rough Ukrainian was deducted two points for fouls but Ashfaq still had to see out a torrid last round to avoid being halted on an injury. Qais won on points, 30-25 and 29-26 twice, to win their semi-final and his place at the next Olympic Games.
Antony Fowler lost a unanimous decision to France’s Christian Mbilli Ossomo but will box-off for an Olympic place against Germany’s Xhek Paskali on Saturday.
