Tiafack gets the next German medal - only which one is still unclear
Nelvie Tiafack secures a medal for the German boxing team. The color is yet to be determined. The super heavyweight has big plans. His role models are his mother and "Iron Mike". A big step could be coming after the Olympics.
Nelvie Tiafack bowed confidently to the audience before the verdict was announced. After the medal for the super heavyweight was confirmed at the Olympic boxing tournament, the Cologne powerhouse flexed his muscles for the cameras. The 25-year-old's bronze medal is secure after his unanimous points victory in the quarterfinals against Italian Diego Lenzi.
On Wednesday, Tiafack will fight in the over 92kg weight class against Uzbekistan's Bachodir Jalolov for a place in the final and a chance at gold. The two losers of the semifinals will each receive bronze. "It's a dream," said Tiafack. "I believe in myself. I set myself relatively high goals. But I'm also realistic. There are people who have been doing this all their lives. But those who know me know: When I step into the ring, I want to win."
Against Lenzi, Tiafack showed what sets him apart: From the first bell, he marched on in the Paris North Arena. This impressed the judges, with four out of five seeing him ahead after the first of three rounds. However, coach Lukas Wilaschek warned: "Don't let him come to you. Ever. You're there." German fans in the arena chanted "Nelvie! Nelvie!" - and Tiafack delivered. Once again, four out of five judges saw him as the better boxer in the second round. In the third round, Tiafack saw out the victory.
First Olympic medal since 2016
For the German Boxing Association, this is the first Olympic medal since 2016, when Artem Harutyunyan won bronze in the lightweight division in Rio de Janeiro. Tiafack is the last remaining German boxer at the Paris Games. Chemnitz's Maxi Klötzer and Munich's Magomed Schachidov both lost in the first round.
For Tiafack, this is already the greatest success of his career, and a reward for many setbacks in the past. The 1.89m tall athlete, who weighs between 110 and 120kg depending on his preparation phase, has been held back by injuries and form fluctuations. In Paris, however, everything is going well - the 2022 European champion had already sensed it before leaving: "I go into every tournament expecting to be among the best."
Role models: Mother and Mike Tyson
Tiafack surprised by missing the Olympics in Tokyo, despite being the top seed at the qualifying tournament. He took another shot at Olympic glory - and will now be rewarded. He took his mother, who was in the audience, and his sporting idol Mike Tyson as role models, saying: "Not many people have a fighter's heart like that."
The native Cameroonian has also learned early on to fight his way through. He came to Germany with his mother alone, "I had no other option but to be strong." He tried football and basketball, but it was only with boxing that he could channel his emotions in the right direction. His talent was evident early on, becoming German champion in the elite class at the age of 19.
Switch to the pros after the Olympics?
German heavyweight professional Agit Kabayel had already believed in a gold medal for Tiafack before the won quarterfinal. "I definitely think he's capable of gold," the 31-year-old told the Munich-based media group "Münchner Merkur/tz". He brings an extremely high level of dynamism. "That's very exciting for the audience."
And that makes him interesting for the professional business. Tiafack would like to make a living with boxing after the Olympics, the now secure Olympic medal should make the switch easier. Just like Harutyunyan did before, who lost a WBC lightweight world title fight against American Shakur Stevenson in early July. Kabayel believes that Tiafack will also make a good impression in the pros. The Bochum resident emphasized: "The Olympics is the perfect stage for the transition to the professional level."
Tiafack's potential gold medal victory in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris would be a significant achievement, potentially opening doors to a professional boxing career. After securing his bronze medal at the Olympics, Tiafack mentioned his aspiration to follow in the footsteps of Artem Harutyunyan, who transitioned to professional boxing after winning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
