Spanish-Moroccan Boxer Ayoub Ghadfa Aims for Olympic Gold After Overcoming Adversity

Born in Marbella in 1998 to Moroccan parents, Ayoub grew up in Malaga where he was the victim of harassment and racism at school because of his origin and physique. To learn to defend himself, he started taking kickboxing lessons at the age of 10, on the recommendation of his father. At 18, the young fighter joined Madrid where he joined José Valenciano’s gym, near his university. His new coach advised him to practice boxing. This is how he made his debut in the discipline, with Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson as his references.

At just 19 years old, Ayoub had managed to win a few fights and did not leave Rafa Lozano, the Spanish coach and double Olympic medalist, indifferent. He joined the national boxing team at the age of 20. Since then, he has continued to progress and chain successes. The young man won the silver medal at the European championship in 2022, the bronze at the world championship in 2023 and was crowned European champion a few months ago. At 1.98 meters tall, the boxer of Moroccan origin made history in Spanish boxing on Friday by qualifying for the semifinals of the Olympic competition.

Ayoub is two wins away from gold in Paris to definitively inscribe his name in history, as it has been 24 years since Spanish boxers have won an Olympic medal. It was since Sydney 2000 where Rafa Lozano won the silver medal in the light flyweight category. Ayoub and his compatriots Enmanuel Reyes Pla and José Quiles, who are competing this Saturday in the quarterfinals in their category, hope to change the situation and offer Spain its first Olympic gold medal in boxing.