Boxing

Let the Games begin! Lewis Richardson secures Olympic place

By Matt Bozeat


COLCHESTER light-middleweight Lewis Richardson is heading to Paris for this summer season’s Olympic Games after victory in Bangkok immediately.

There was an Olympic place at stake when the Colchester light-middleweight confronted Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez (Puerto Rico) in the quarter-finals of the Boxing Road to Paris Qualifying Olympic qualifying occasion. Richardson reached the final eight with three unanimous factors wins and the 26-year-old southpaw gained unanimously once more.

Richardson mentioned afterwards: “It feels unbelievable. I’ve received the golden ticket after placing years and years of laborious work into it and I’m simply actually pleased with myself for making it occur.

“I’ve had a whole lot of setbacks and I’m so grateful for everybody who has contributed alongside the method. I’ve had so many individuals help me from again house in Colchester, in Sheffield at GB Boxing.  They have all helped me fulfil a dream and I’m over the moon.

“I’ve had so many peaks and troughs. I’ve had success alongside the method and there was extra ups than downs, however the downs hit you laborious. I missed out at the first qualifier, however I’ve bounced again with 4 wins right here and I’ve been boxing so effectively.

“I dropped the first spherical after which to return again and win unanimous it simply exhibits my grit and dedication and actually, this piece of paper (ticket to Paris) means a lot to me.

“My brother is my number one fan and out here supporting. He was at my first fight back in 2010 and today is my 123rd and he’s still here. I had my first bout in Billericay and now we’re in Bangkok – it’s unbelievable!”

Tokyo bronze medallist Aidan Walsh (Ireland) must undergo a box-off to hitch Richardson in Paris after defeat in his quarter-final. Walsh misplaced a 4-1 break up to Zeyad Eashash (Jordan) after having factors docked in each the second and third rounds. Walsh can nonetheless attain Paris by way of the box-offs.

There are 5 qualifying locations at 71kgs up for grabs in Thailand. The 4 semi-finalists qualify and the 4 shedding quarter-finalists go right into a box-off to find out the different qualifier.

Walsh faces a box-off after his quarter-final defeat. He gained the opening spherical on all 5 scorecards, utilizing the ring and pecking away with lengthy singles.

The referee requested for extra motion from each throughout the opening three minutes and he gave Walsh a public warning for holding in the second. That despatched Easash again to his nook at the bell, punching the air. The bout was nonetheless in the stability going into the final three minutes.

Walsh led 19-18 on three of the playing cards, whereas Easash was up by the similar rating on the different two. The bout swung Easash’s method halfway via the final after Walsh was docked one other level for holding.

That led to an opportunity of ways from the Irishman, who held his ft and let his fingers go. Easash was pressured to provide floor, however slammed again with laborious physique photographs. Walsh gave himself extra room in the closing seconds and picked off the Jordanian, however the factors deductions proved pricey.

Great Britain light-weight Amy Broadhurst missed out on qualifying. The 2022 World, European and Commonwealth Games gold medallist was overwhelmed on a 4-1 break up by Oh Yeonji (Korea).


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