Tokyo Olympics: Galal Yafai wins men's flyweight boxing gold with victory over Carlo Paalam

Last update on. From the section OlympicsTokyo Olympic Games on BBC Dates: 23 Jul-8 Aug Time in Tokyo: BST+8. Listen live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button; Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra, and Sounds; Live text and video clips available on BBC Sport app and website.After a convincing victory in Tokyo over Carlo Paalam from the Philippines, Galal Yafai of Britain is now the Olympic flyweight champion.Yafai, 28 years old, won a 4-1 points decision in the Kokugikan Arena for Britain's 19th Gold Medal of the Games.After only 90 seconds of a dominating first round, Briton defeated his opponent in a thrilling finish.Britain has won 59 medals, 19 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze, compared to 65 at London 2012, and 67 at Rio 2016.Yafai, younger brother to professional boxers Kal Gamal and Gamal, said that "it's absolutely something that I've always wanted" BBC Sport. "I'm an Olympic champion and I'm thrilled."I have worked hard. Six years ago, I started boxing. It was a rewarding sport that showed me how hard you can work."Everyone back from Britain and Birmingham, the support that I have received has been unbelievable and incredible. I am overwhelmed and so thankful for all the love shown to me.Paalam, 23 years old, was trying to be the first Filipino to win Olympic Boxing Gold. However, he was outclassed and was caught in the first round by two lefts to send him down.Yafai was awarded the opening round by all five judges. Four of those five gave Yafai the second round, because he impressed them with his speed and movements. He also landed excellent uppercuts and lefthooks as well as shots at the body.Paalam won the third round with all five judges' cards. But it wasn't enough. Yafai won a 29-28 victory with four cards. The other was in favor of the Filipino by the exact same margin.A proud boxing familyYafai, a Birmingham fighter, comes from a boxing background. His older brothers Kal and Gamal have had great success in professional ranks after starting as amateurs.Kal, 32, a former WBA super-flyweight Kal lost in 16 of the 2008 Olympics. He then won a European silver in 2010. Before turning professional, he won 26 of 27 bouts.Gamal, who is now 30, won a European bronze gold medal in 2010. He became a professional four years later. Gamal has been a professional for four years and holds the European super-bantamweight title.Galal had been reflecting on his childhood and the constant reprimands he received from his mother for fighting within the house before the final.He said, "My mother was always going insane - take your gloves off, stop hitting my little brother" "We were fighting in the sitting room every day with gloves on. Those two are what started me off."Galal's path to the Olympics wasn't smooth. He was six years old and was still working in a car plant."I was grafting, picking boxes up, and dreaming of going to the Olympic Games." He said, "I was doing the rubbish, delivering components, just a skivvy work really."To pursue his Olympic dream, he quit his job and qualified for Rio 2016. He lost in 16 of the 16 remaining rounds. In 2017, he won a European silver at superflyweight. The Commonwealth gold at the 2018 Games in Australia's Gold Coast was in the same category.Galal said, "If it wasn't for Kal and Gamal, I wouldn't be starting boxing." "They have been there for me, and if they weren't for me, I wouldn't still be here."He spoke live with Kal on BBC TV after he had collected his gold medal. His older brother said: "It's unreal. It was brilliant, and you did exactly what you needed to."Kal said: "When he landed the punch in round one, I was going crazy and I knew that he would win gold."Galal (left), Gamal, and Kal Yafai all backed Birmingham's bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.More British glory in this ringYafai's 19th Olympic gold medal won by British boxers is a record and he now becomes the 17th British fighter who has won gold.He is also Britain's first male Olympic champion at flyweight in 65 years, a feat he achieved after Terry Spinks won the gold medal in Melbourne 1956. Nicola Adams was awarded the women's flyweight title in London 2012, and Rio four years later.Team GB sent 11 boxers from the UK to Japan. They are guaranteed six medals. This is their highest number of medals at a Games since Antwerp, 1920. However, they did win three golds in London 2012.Yafai is now the first British boxing gold-medal winner at Tokyo 2020. After Ben Whittaker (welterweight), and Pat McCormack, Ben Whittaker(light-heavyweight), Yafai won silvers. Frazer Clarke and Kariss artingstall (women’s featherweight) received bronze medals.After failing to win a single gold in seven events between 1972 and 1996, Britain has now won at most one gold medal in boxing at each of the six Games and four of the last Olympics.Lauren Price will be fighting Li Qian, a Chinese woman in the women's midweight final on Sunday and has a chance at another British gold.Analysis: 'Beautiful watch'Nicola Adams is a two-time Olympic gold medalboxer, on BBC TVHe went down by his left hand, going straight through the middle. This is the type of shot you want for your highlights reel. You can get punches in a lot.His punch variety was extraordinary. It was breathtaking to see. He's probably the best boxer of all the brothers.He worked hard and capitalized on counter-punches.