April tenth - next Thursday - is the professional debut of the Canadian bronze medalist at lightweight in the last Olympiad. This will be his first time lacing up since the controversial semifinals loss in Paris. It was a decent amateur run for the 5'9" twenty-six year old southpaw. The feather in his cap was by far a shutout UD victory over Lázaro Jorge Álvarez Estrada (most of the living Cuban legend's defeats have either been avenged or come via split or majority decision) in the Pan-Am Games in 2023 en route to a gold medal there. @Drew101 what do you think - is this you guys' best homegrown prospect in a while? (as in from Nova Scotia, or even the whole country)
In Nova Scotia? Yeah, I'd say so for sure. Custio Clayton was pretty decorated in the amateur ranks and was unlucky not to win bronze in 2012. But, even then, Wyatt's Pan Am gold and the fact that he was pretty unlucky, imo, not to compete for gold tips the edge his way. Aside from Clayton, you'd have to go back at least a quarter of a century to Kirk Johnson to find a NS prospect who seemed as promising. As far as the entire country? Yeah, I'd say he's the most promising prospect we've produced in a while. Biyarslanov (who started boxing after he moved to Canada) might be close, but I think Wyatt's medal in the Olympics gives him the edge.
Taking on undefeated Chilean prospect Tomás Andrés Lastra Oñate tomorrow on the Ünal vs. Czerklewicz / Ramírez vs. Flannery undercard on ESPN.
Sanford is pulling double-duty this month! He's on the M'billi vs. Sulęcki undercard, taking on Estonian national amateur champion Mark Andrejev. That'll make for three bouts in his first six weeks as pro!
