JAHMAL Harvey wants to show Floyd Mayweather how it’s done in the Olympics – before following his lead.
Harvey, who is based in Washington, bagged gold in the Pan American games last year and heads to Paris as one of Team USA’s brightest hopes of landing a first men’s title since 2004
Andre Ward was the last man to stand at the top of the podium in Shanghai, treading the same path as Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier, and Oscar De La Hoya, who all tasted Olympic success.
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Mayweather could only manage a bronze in Atlanta in 1996 before embarking on a professional career that earned him hundreds of millions and a place in sporting immortality.
It won’t be easy for Harvey and the rest of the boxing team. None of the eight fighters has fought in the greatest show on earth, yet they arrived in France knowing glory is within their sights.
Harvey, 21, won the junior Olympics at just 13 years old and told The U.S. Sun his experience at the Pan American games—which helped rubberstamp his ticket to Paris—will serve him well over the next few weeks.
“I’ve only ever watched the Games on TV,” he said.
“But I can’t wait to cherish the moment.”
The spotlight will burn bright for Harvey, but his eyes will firmly be on the future prize like every other boxer.
“I’m definitely looking at going pro,” he admitted.
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Harvey, who turned to vegetarianism to fine-tune his powers, loved football as a kid—his dad was a coach—but as soon as he began watching The Money Man make his way through the weight divisions and establish himself as the self-styled GOAT, there was only one sport on his mind.
His boxing career began in eighth grade, and once he saw Mayweather on TV, there would only be one outcome.
“My dad would always get his pay-per-view fights,” Harvey recalled.
“I would always fall asleep as he came on so late but would wake up in the morning and watch it all then.”
Former light middleweight champ Jared Hurd has been giving advice on transitioning from amateur to pro, although keeping grounded is critical.
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He has a strong support network—his two brothers, sister, and parents will all be cheering him on in the French capital, knowing this is their chance to witness history.
Jajaira Gonzalez will fight for the US as a lightweight on the women’s side of the games.
She is a three-time world junior champion looking to revive her career with a big performance in Paris.
