The Olympic boxing prospects outside the UK looking to launch a career at Tokyo 2020

Muhammad Ali, Anthony Joshua, Andre Ward… many of boxing’s stars past and present made a name for themselves at the Olympics.  

The Games offers a brilliant opportunity for amateurs to compete with the best of their weight class in the world while giving great exposure before they turn pro. 

So, which hot prospects in Tokyo this summer could make a name for themselves on the world stage?

Oleksandr Khyzhniak – Middleweight, Ukraine  

Meet the man determined to follow in the footsteps of Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk. 

Khyzhniak was born to be a boxer and began training under the watchful eye of his father from the age of five. Khyzhniak Sr had a boxing career in the former USSR so has passed on all of his knowledge and experience to his son. 

The Ukrainian, 25, has delayed his professional career as his main focus is to win an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. 

He became world youth champion in 2012, European champion in 2017 and world champion in the same year. 

Last year, The Ukrainian Boxing Federation awarded its International Boxing Association (AIBA) 2020 men’s ‘Best in Boxing’ prize to Khyzhniak and no doubt many back home will be watching with great interest to see how he fares this summer and beyond.  

Eumir Marcial – Middleweight, Philippines 

Marcial, also a middleweight, will be competing with Khyzhniak this year in one of the most competitive divisions. 

Last year, the 25-year-old officially turned pro after signing a deal with Manny Pacquiao Promotions although says he will continue to represent the Philippines in international amateur competitions including the Games. 

Marcial has already trained under Freddie Roach and is clearly heading in the right direction for a successful career in the pro ranks. 

His talent has always been evident and the Filipino star won the junior world championships back in 2011. 

Marcial is a power puncher with a style suited to the professional game and his name is one fans are likely to hear plenty more of in the coming years. 

Muslim Gadzhimagomedov – Heavyweight, Russia 

Gadzhimagomedov is a 6ft 4in powerhouse looking to add Olympic gold to his CV having claimed top spot on the podium at the European and World Championships back in 2019. 

He will enter Tokyo as the man to beat having coasted past Ecuador’s Julio Castillo 5-0 in the gold-medal bout at the worlds. 

The heavyweight was even sent a message of congratulations from Vladimir Putin for his triumph which read: ‘You have achieved your cherished dream by triumphing at the world championships. 

‘I am confident that your leadership stance, persistence and a truly sportsmanlike disposition will help you in the future to achieve your objectives and worthily represent our country at the most prestigious international sports events.’

Andy Cruz – Light welterweight, Cuba 

Cuba has long been a shining light of Olympic boxing but Cruz is their one real hope for a goal medal this time around. 

A world champion in 2017 and 2019 and winner of the Pan American Games in 2015 and 2019, he enters Tokyo as hot favourite. 

Cruz is a reactive, thinking type of boxer and offers a lightning threat with counter punches. 

He understands the expectations on his shoulders back home and told Granma: ‘I can’t deny that being a pre-competition favorite puts a little pressure on me, but I’ve been dealing with that calmly for months now. When I was a kid I dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion and now I’m one step away from it.’ 

Shakhobidin Zoirov – Flyweight, Uzbekistan 

The reigning flyweight champion is odds on to win another gold medal this summer. 

Uzbekistan will arrive at the Games with arguably the strongest cohort of boxers of any country and Zoirov might be the best of them.   

The 28-year-old has already signed with MTK Global and reeled off three professional wins but is focused on adding more gold to his collection. 

He recently told the official Olympics channel: ‘I took part in the 2019 World Championships and became world champion. I then took part in professional boxing three times and won all three fights.

‘The difference between professional and amateur boxing is that amateur boxing requires more technical skills and more speed in strikes so it’s more difficult, in my opinion. For now, my motivation is to become a two-time Olympic champion – the first from Uzbekistan.’

Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov – Featherweight, Uzbekistan

Former world champion and Asian Games champion, Mirzakhalilov arrives in Tokyo as another of Uzbekistan’s great medal hopes. 

He is the dominant force at 57 kg, which is a ferociously competitive division. 

The razor sharp pugilist is already a hit back home and has met with the country’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

He takes part in arduous training camps in the mountains, living a spartan lifestyle with his sparring partners and fellow Olympic hopefuls, which has paid dividends so far in the 26-year-old’s career.  

David Nyika – Heavyweight, New Zealand

Former Commonwealth Games champion Nyika looks the part at 6ft 6in and has the skillset to back it up. 

He’s trained with Joseph Parker and has won one professional fight himself, taking advantage of the change in legislation to compete in Tokyo too. 

Nyika recently told Radio New Zealand: ‘The chances are the travel restrictions are going to cripple us, so getting a bit more variety is key for me and just getting as much experience as I can leading up to the Olympics.

‘I’ve had 94 fights to date and I’d really like to get to 100 before the Olympics, but that’s unlikely unless I make it through to a gold medal match, which would be nice.

‘I’ve finished my apprenticeship in boxing and now it’s time to start cashing-in.’