Canada's Wyatt Sanford claims Olympic bronze after losing boxing semifinal by split decision
25-year-old from Kennetcook, N.S., earns Canada's 1st boxing medal since 1996
Wyatt Sanford became Canada's first Olympic boxing medallist in 28 years on Sunday following a semifinal loss to France's Sofiane Oumiha in the men's 63.5-kilogram weight class.
The 25-year-old from Kennetcook, N.S., lost 4-1 on points, but he was assured a medal entering the bout as both semifinal losers receive bronze.
Despite moments of success with his left hook and a strong showing in the second and third rounds, Sanford was ultimately unable to overcome the three-time lightweight world champion at North Paris Arena.
"I feel great. I didn't get the result I wanted, but he is one hell of a fighter, a great boxer," Sanford said.
WATCH | Sanford claims Canada's 1st Olympic boxing medal in 28 years:
Oumiha, who is the taller and longer fighter, fought off his back foot while using his speed to capitalize on openings against the Canadian southpaw in the first round. All five judges scored the round for the 29-year-old Frenchman.
But Sanford continued coming forward and landing hard shots, making it a close fight down the stretch. Two of the judges gave the second round to Sanford, while four of them gave him the nod in the third and final round.
Four judges scored the fight 29-28 in Oumiha's favour, while the other had Sanford winning by the same score.
"I'm super happy with the performance, I just didn't get the outcome. That's just the way it goes," Sanford said. "It took me a bit too long to get used to his speed as he is super fast. I knew I was down after the first round, but then I usually am."
David Defiagbon won Canada's last Olympic medal in the sport with heavyweight silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, while Lennox Lewis was the last Canadian to capture gold with the super-heavyweight title in 1988 in Seoul.
Sanford said he is excited to bring his medal back to his Nova Scotia hometown to share with loved ones and supporters.
"It was great to have some support in the stadium from Canadians. It was great to have the support from back home in Kennetcook," Sanford said.
"I can't wait to get back there to celebrate the bronze medal with my family and friends who have been there for me since day one. It's fantastic to be able to give them something back for all that support over the years."
WATCH | Sanford can't wait to celebrate bronze medal with friends and family:
More than 400 of Sanford's neighbours in his tiny hometown cheered during his match this morning as he loomed large on an outdoor big screen.
In Kennetcook's Findley Park, a soggy baseball field about 4,900 kilometres from Paris, virtually everyone in the crowd was wearing red and waving Canadian flags as the match got underway.
The crowd roared every time Sanford landed a punch, but the upbeat mood was deflated after the third round when it became clear Wyatt would lose on points and miss his chance to compete for a gold medal.
Minutes later, however, the crowd hooted and hollered with approval when reminded that Sanford had won bronze and would soon be celebrated at a homecoming party in Kennetcook, population 150.
"This means the world to our small community," said Eric White, a local resident who helped organize the event. "What Wyatt has done, we're all so proud of him ... That kid gave everything he had."
Sanford, the reigning Pan American Games champion, entered the Paris Olympics as the top-ranked fighter in his weight category.
Serious hand injury
Along with celebrating, Sanford plans to use some time off to heal.
The boxer revealed after his bronze-medal match that he has been dealing with a serious hand injury since last fall.
"I ruptured the tendons in my thumb before Pan Am Games. I competed [at the Games] with the ruptured tendons, I was able to win it but afterwards, I wasn't really able to use my hand at all and up until April I wasn't even hitting a heavy bag," he said.
Sanford said a specialist suggested surgery last month, but it would have to wait.
"[It was] painful... but definitely well worth it," he said.
He opened the tournament in Paris with a unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria's Radoslav Rosenov in the Round of 16 last Monday. Sanford then defeated Uzbekistan's Ruslan Abdullaev 4-1 in Thursday's quarterfinal, guaranteeing him a medal result.
"It feels amazing. I am sure it will kick in when I meet my parents soon," Sanford said after clinching a medal.
"I'm super excited and super thrilled that we were able to bring home a medal for Canada in boxing. It hasn't been done for 28 years."
"It was a great fight. Never count me out after the first round," said Sanford, who was trailing Abdullaev at that time. "I'm used to losing the first round, but it's my heart, my cardio that will push through, so I could win the second and the third."
Sanford made his Olympic debut in 2021 at the Tokyo Games, losing in the opening round.
He started boxing when he was 10 years old and his first fight was when he was 11. He moved to Montreal in 2017 to join a high-performance training group.
A four-time Canadian youth champion, Sanford won his first senior title in 2018 in the 64-kg weight class.
He and Montreal's Tammara Thibeault were the only Canadian boxers in Paris. Thibeault, from Shawinigan, Que., competed in the women's 75-kg division but was eliminated after her first bout.
WATCH | Sanford punches his way to an Olympic medal:
Oumiha claimed silver at the 2016 Games in Rio. He will face Cuba's Erislandy Alvarez in the final on Wednesday.
"It was a good fight, I started really well," Oumiha said after defeating Sanford. "I had a little drop in the second round. I got things in order in the third and got that win.
"The story is beautiful. If you don't believe in yourself, nobody will. You have to believe in your dreams. Don't put any limits, in sport or in life."
With files from The Canadian Press
