Press Release from Team Awinonga:
Illinois businessman & Boxing memorabilia museum owner Wasfi Tolaymat is supporting US Nationals winner Joseph Awinonga Jr as his manager during his run to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and beyond.
Awinonga Jr, who recently scored an upset in Lubbock Texas last month, took home the National Championship in the 2025 USA Nationals at 198 lbs, has seen support by Tolaymat since childhood.
Tolaymat, who managed former Gennady Golovkin world title challenger Osumanu Adama, previously worked with Awinonga’s father, Joseph Awinonga Sr, as Awinonga trained his fellow Ghanian transplant Adama and other fights previously working with Tolaymat.
David Estrada, who challenged former world champions such as “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Andre Berto & Kermit Cintron and Lanardo Tyner a previous contender who faced a young, undefeated Canelo Alvarez, also worked with Tolaymat in years past.
Tolaymat hosts an extensive boxing memorabilia exhibit in Chicago, featuring Muhammad Ali’s memorabilia, Oscar De La Hoya and several others.
Tolaymat, who made his journey to the United States in 1978, emigrating from the country of Jordan, hopes to help Awinonga Jr win Team USA’s first gold medal in men’s boxing since Andre Ward took home gold in the 2004 Games in Greece and is also looking to stay beside both Awinonga Jr and Sr, protecting Awinonga Jr as the 18-year-old’s manager in the cutthroat business of boxing, beyond the 2028 Olympic Games.