Takyi confirms pro career on hold

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Samuel Takyi says he has put his professional career on hold to concentrate on his Olympic dreams as he intensifies training with members of the national amateur team, Black Bombers, for the remaining qualifying routes to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 22-year-old boxer is confident he can make a second successive appearance at the Olympic Games as he puts his faith in national coach Kwasi Ofori Asare to prepare him for the next qualifiers in Italy in February.

"I am back to the national team; I am a member of the Black Bombers now. My professional career is on hold for the meantime," Takyi told the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview in Accra.

With three professional fights under his belt, Takyi failed to avail himself of the national team during their preparation for the recent African Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal, despite expressing his desire to fight at the world's premier multi-sport competition next year.

His failure to join the team to Senegal amid allegations of a disagreement with officials of the Ghana Boxing Federation was over a career development fund promised by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following his exploits at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.

However, the boxer confirmed to the Graphic Sports that he had reached an amicable settlement with the authorities and the process was underway for him to be paid what he was due.

"I want to let Ghanaians know that Takyi is now back to the Back Bombers and they should throw their weight behind the Black Bombers. I am currently training very hard with Coach Asare who has been there with me before and I expect sponsors to come in and support us," he confirmed.

"Training is going on well, and Coach Asare is the best in this job and I believe in him; all we need now is the support and sponsorship."

Seven members of the Black Bombers and five members of the Black Hitters (female national team) failed to secure a single slot at the Dakar qualifiers for the Paris Olympics. Now, the federation is preparing some of the boxers to take advantage of two more qualification pathways in Italy and Thailand next year to secure qualification at the Paris Games.