It will come as no consolation to Lewis Richardson that at the home of the French Open tennis event he was denied in the equivalent of a three‑set thriller. As the lights came on for boxing at Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time, so they went out on Team GB’s involvement in the sport at the Olympics.
Richardson will have to settle for bronze in the men’s 71kg category after losing on a split decision against Mexico’s Marco Verde. Normally the domain of aces and volleys, now it was time for jabs and hooks. Richardson gave just as good as he got.
As feels typical at these events, you would not have to look far for those who vehemently contested the points verdict. Boxing judges would cause controversy during a meditation class. The five in place here scored 3-2 in favour of Verde in round one. In the second, with a terrific counterattacking display, Richardson took the spoils 4-1. The final round felt keenly contested yet all five judges opted for Verde. The Mexican was the boxer who looked to be playing for time as the clock ticked down. Richardson, to his credit, refused to cry foul.
“It was close,” the Colchester man said. “It was a close bout. It is hard to say whether I am happy or disappointed with my performance but what I will say is that I am proud of how I conducted myself throughout this tournament.
“I have been ultra-professional and have done my best to represent my country with pride and honour. I hope the country are happy and proud with what I have achieved. Although I lost tonight, I will be able to bring a bronze medal home.
“I did think I had it but we are in there, it is heat of the moment. I felt like I won the bout but I am not screaming about a robbery because it was close. It is also far too soon to say anything like that. He was a good opponent, seeded number two in the tournament. I am happy with my performances this week. I thought I had done enough but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.
“I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason and I will come back strong from this. It’s the losses that make you as a person, it is about how you come back from setbacks. I am resilient, will come back stronger and believe I have an exciting future.”
But where? Logic would suggest Richardson, 27, will now remove himself from the amateur code with lucrative opportunity sure to come his way. He did nothing to dismiss the notion but is entitled to take time to ponder his future. “The clear transition usually is into the professional ranks,” he said.
“It has been an extremely busy year so I would like to go home, rest and recuperate with everyone who has supported me. I also want to celebrate the bronze medal. I believe I have opened doors for myself, I believe I have an exciting future.
“It is very raw. It is hard to process right now. I won that bronze medal on Tuesday night but didn’t celebrate because I was looking to change the colour of that medal.”
Sporting context must be applied. In a disastrous start for Team GB’s boxing division five of their six fighters lost in the opening round. Richardson steadied the ship and, to an extent, will prevent the asking of awkward questions over the state of British amateur boxing. Delicious Orie, one of those early departures, was in the crowd to watch and cheer on Richardson.
In the gold medal match Verde will face Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev of Uzbekistan after the latter saw off the USA’s Omari Jones in a lively first bout of the evening. Jones’s gumshield flew out twice during the contest. Muydinkhujaev, a 23-year-old who is making his Olympic debut, displayed a range of punching and stern defence that suggests Verde will endure a tough final. As ever, it will all depend what the judges think. Or, more pertinently, what they say.
