2020 Olympic Gold medallist Galal Yafai has signed a long-term promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing.
The 29-year-old, brother to former super-flyweight world champion Kal and one-time European super-bantamweight belt holder Gamal, lit up Tokyo last year with his performances to take the top honour at flyweight.
Yafai’s professional debut will come on the undercard of Lawrence Okolie’s WBO cruiserweight title defence against Michal Cieslak at the O2 Arena, London on February 27. And promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that his new acquisition will challenge for a professional title in his first fight.
“The goal now is to win a world title,” said Birmingham’s Yafai whose amateur career was littered with medal success.
“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.
“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”
Promoter Eddie Hearn described Yafai as the ‘standout British fighter’ at the Olympics and is thrilled to be working with another member of their family.
“It was personally very important to me to get this done,” he said.
Should Yafai win a title on February 27 then Hearn says they will move their man quickly to world honours.
“We expect him to win across multiple divisions. This young man is an exceptional talent.”