Fresh off a gold medal win at this year’s African Games, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Samuel Takyi has inked a managerial deal with UK-based Streetwise Management.
The move represents a step forward in a career that has been seemingly stuck in reverse. Streetwise CEO Michael Amoo-Bediako guided Richard Commey to a world title and currently manages WBO Africa super featherweight champion Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab, who will face Mark Chamberlain May 18 on the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undercard.
“We have been following Samuel for a very long time even before he was in the Ghanaian National Team so to finally land him is great news,” said Amoo-Bediako. “We want to thank Samuel’s advisors, Fred Asifo and David Itskowitch, for their hard work in helping to facilitate this deal, and his former manager Clement Quartey who has also been very cooperative in the negotiation process.”
According to a press release issued today, the 23-year-old Takyi (3-0, 3 KOs), who hasn’t fought since June 2023, is eager to get back in the ring and an announcement regarding his next fight will be made in the near future.
“Streetwise’s guidance and support will be invaluable as I continue to train hard and pursue my dreams in the ring,” said Takyi in the press release. “I also want to express my appreciation to my family, particularly my father, as well as thanks to my former manager Clement Quartey, my advisors Fred Asifo and David Itskowitch and my legal team led by Samuel Kissiedu Esq. I promise to work tirelessly in order to become Ghana’s next world champion.”
It’s been nearly three years since Takyi captured the hearts of Ghanaians everywhere with a bronze medal-winning effort at the Summer Olympic Games in France. The future looked bright for the then-20 year old. Takyi received a hero’s welcome upon return to Ghana; President Nana Akufo-Addo personally congratulated him on ending Ghana’s 29-year medal-less Olympic drought.
Local fight fans eagerly anticipated Takyi’s next move and were optimistic when they learned Takyi would be trained by none other than Ghana boxing legend Ike Quartey, who had signed the precocious talent to his promotional company, Bazooka Promotions and Management.
But after a promising first two bouts came delays, fight cancellations and weight issues that raised red flags within the Ghana boxing community. It all came to a head in March 2023, when Quartey informed BoxingAfrica.com that Takyi wanted “out of the contract with us.”
Last fall, Takyi shocked boxing fans when he announced a return to the amateur ranks with the goal of capturing gold at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
“My pro career is on hold and I am now focused on fighting as an amateur,” Takyi told BoxingAfrica.com in a recent interview. “I don’t want to talk about the future now because my aim is to fight at the Olympics again.”
Former world champion Joshua Clottey echoed the sentiment of many who disagreed with the move. “What is the motivation to go back to the Olympics? His decision might put a lot of pressure on him to qualify for those Games and that could be detrimental to his career if he fails to make the cut,” he told BoxingAfrica.com.
Takyi’s gamble took a hit last March when he suffered defeat to Japan’s Shion Nishiyama’s at the Olympic Qualifiers in Italy. He now returns to the pro ranks, having joined forces with the preeminent Ghanaian-led boxing managerial firm. However, he must repair a reputation in Ghana dented by whispers of a haughty attitude that has led to disputes and distractions outside the ring.
As Ghana boxing stakeholders adopt a wait-and-see approach to Takyi, his performance at the African Games suggests the talent is still there.
“I was determined to win gold at the African Games especially when I was fighting in front of my home crowd,” said Takyi. “It was a dream come true for me to prove a point, having returned from the professional ranks and I am happy that everything went as planned.”
Takyi now returns to the professional ranks but, more important, he must begin to act as a professional. His alliance with Streetwise is a step in the right direction. What’s next is up to him.
