Galal Yafai delighted to have Rob McCracken in his corner on a big night

Galal Yafai waved goodbye to Team GB after winning Olympic gold last year but he will have a familiar face in the corner for his professional debut this weekend following his appointment of Rob McCracken as trainer.

Yafai, the youngest of three fighting brothers, was hot property after topping the podium in the flyweight category at Tokyo 2020 but he has decided to continue under the tutelage of Team GB’s long-time performance director.

The esteemed McCracken, who oversaw Carl Froch’s career and is in limbo as to his role with Anthony Joshua, at least publicly, is a welcome addition to Yafai’s camp as he looks to back up his amateur success in the paid ranks.

“He’s a great trainer, we get along very well and he knows me inside out,” Yafai told the PA news agency. “Boxing at the EIS (English Institute Of Sport, Sheffield, Team GB’s boxing headquarters) got me to being Olympic champion.

“Rob’s a great coach and he’s done great things in the past with other fighters and he’s doing great things with me now so hopefully I can put it all into my fights and show what I’ve been doing.

“I just think being an Olympic champion I needed one of the best coaches in the world, a top coach. For me personally I think Rob is. It was a great fit.”

Yafai, 29, has made his intentions clear at this level after agreeing to a 10-round introductory bout and while Carlos Vado is lightly-regarded, the Mexican has collected 10 wins from 15 contests and has never been stopped.

It is quite the step up for Yafai, who is more acquainted with three-rounders in the amateur code, but he is ready to take the plunge on the undercard of Lawrence Okolie’s WBO cruiserweight title defence against Michal Cieslak at the O2 Arena.

Being Olympic champion is a great