Wyatt Sanford, the first Canadian boxer to medal at the Olympics since 1996, has signed a promotional deal with Eye of the Tiger Management.
The 26-year-old southpaw from Kennetcook, Nova Scotia made it to the semifinals of the 2024 Olympics before losing a razor-thin 4-1 decision to Frenchman Sofiane Oumiha. Sanford qualified for the Paris Games by earning gold at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
The 2024 success was an improvement from his campaign at the Tokyo Games three years prior, when he was eliminated in the opening round of the 69kg competition. Sanford had been ranked no. 1 at his weight in Canada since 2017, and also earned silver at the 2023 Continental Championships in Cali, Colombia and bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Now as a pro, Sanford brings domestic flavor to a Montreal-based organization that is rich in international talent, including world-rated contenders Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias and Albert Ramirez.
“By choosing [Eye of the Tiger], I chose an organization that truly cares about its athletes’ well-being and will always have my best interests at heart. That’s not something you find everywhere in boxing, so for me, it was essential. I’m even happier because this allows me to stay home and fight in front of my own people,” said Sanford in a press release.
“Even though Wyatt Sanford is a local athlete, it’s important to recognize that with his international results and spectacular style, he could have signed with any promoter. His decision to join EOTTM adds even more depth to our roster and reinforces our commitment to competing with the world’s top promoters on the international stage,” added Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger.
Trainer Vincent Auclair says that, while Sanford has been successful in the amateur ranks, his greatest success may come in the professionals.
“Wyatt has always been a physical boxer with great punching power and excellent distance control. In three-round fights, his best moments often come in the second and third rounds, which gives us an idea of what he can achieve in the professional ranks,” said Auclair.
“We are beyond proud to have signed the first Canadian Olympic boxing medalist in over 28 years,” adds Marc Ramsay, Eye of the Tiger’s Director of Recruitment. “Not only is Wyatt Sanford a recruit with immense potential, but he is also a local boxer who developed entirely within Canada’s amateur boxing system.”
The date for Sanford’s professional debut will be announced in the coming weeks, states the press release.
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