Let the Video games start! Lewis Richardson secures Olympic place

By Matt Bozeat

COLCHESTER light-middleweight Lewis Richardson is heading to Paris for this summer time’s Olympic Video games after victory in Bangkok at this time.

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

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

“I’ve had loads of setbacks and I’m so grateful for everybody who has contributed alongside the way in which. I’ve had so many individuals assist me from again house in Colchester, in Sheffield at GB Boxing.  They’ve 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 way in which and there was extra ups than downs, however the downs hit you exhausting. I missed out on the first qualifier, however I’ve bounced again with 4 wins right here and I’ve been boxing so properly.

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

“My brother is my primary fan and out right here supporting. He was at my first combat again in 2010 and at this time is my 123rd and he’s nonetheless right here. I had my first bout in Billericay and now we’re in Bangkok – it’s unbelievable!”

Tokyo bronze medallist Aidan Walsh (Eire) must undergo a box-off to affix 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 through the box-offs.

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

Walsh faces a box-off after his quarter-final defeat. He received 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 within the second. That despatched Easash again to his nook on the bell, punching the air. The bout was nonetheless within the stability going into the final three minutes.

Walsh led 19-18 on three of the playing cards, whereas Easash was up by the identical rating on the opposite two. The bout swung Easash’s approach halfway by 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 palms go. Easash was compelled to offer floor, however slammed again with exhausting physique photographs. Walsh gave himself extra room within the closing seconds and picked off the Jordanian, however the factors deductions proved expensive.

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