GB Boxing’s Lewis Richardson will leave Paris 2024 with a bronze medal after a narrow-split decision defeat (3:2) to Mexico’s Marco Verde Alvarez in the men’s light-middleweight semi-final at Stade Roland Garros.
It makes Richardson the 15th boxer to win a medal for GB Boxing at the last four Olympics Games and earns him a coveted place on the hall of fame wall in the Lions’ Den at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
The semi-final defeat means that all Great Britain’s Paris Olympians have now exited the competition, however Cindy Ngamba – who trains with GB Boxing and is being supported by its coaches and staff in Paris is representing the IOC Refugee Team as she does not yet have a British passport – with a medal already secured, is set to compete in the women’s middleweight semi-final on Thursday.
It was a closely fought clash between the Brit and Mexico’s Alvarez at Stade Roland-Garros, with little to separate the two in the opening round, with Alvarez taking it 3:2.
An impressive second round from Richardson however saw the scores swing in his favour, winning the round 4:1 to hold a 2:1 lead on all cards heading into the final round.
Sadly though, the conclusion of the contest was ruled in favour of the Mexican, with Richardson unlucky to find himself losing the final round unanimously, with many in the stands at home feeling the 27-year-old had done enough to reach Friday’s gold medal match.
The Colchester boxer was boxing for the third time in Paris having earned victories over Serbia’s Vakhid Abbasov and Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash on his way to securing his medal.
Richardson said: “I’ve just stepped out the ring and emotions are high and I’m disappointed to miss out on the chance to box for gold in the final. I’m a born winner so it hurts right now.
“That said, I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved here, and I’ve made history for my hometown of Colchester, and I’ll look back on this time in my life with real happiness.
“Every round was competitive and close, that’s amateur boxing and unfortunately on this occasion it didn’t go my way.
“It’s been an amazing experience. I’m so grateful for everybody that has helped me along the way, it’s been an incredible journey.
“I’ve been boxing for 12-13 years and the amount of support I’ve had has been so influential on me achieving what I have tonight and at these Olympic Games.”
