Lewis Richardson may find little comfort in the fact that he was edged out in a match akin to a three-set thriller at the venue of the French Open tennis event. As the lights illuminated the boxing arena at Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time, it also marked the end of Team GB’s journey in the sport at the Olympics.
Richardson will walk away with a bronze medal in the men’s 71kg category following a split decision loss to Mexico’s Marco Verde. Typically associated with rallies of aces and volleys, the venue now witnessed a contest of jabs and hooks, with Richardson delivering noteworthy punches.
As commonly seen at these events, there were many who strongly challenged the points decision. Boxing judges could spark debate during a calm meditation session. The five judges here scored the first round 3-2 in favor of Verde. In the second round, with an impressive counterattacking performance, Richardson secured a 4-1 win. The final round was fiercely contested, yet all five judges favored Verde. The Mexican boxer seemed to stall for time as the clock counted down, while Richardson commendably refrained from protesting the decision.
“It was close,” said the man from Colchester. “It was a tight bout. It’s difficult to gauge whether I’m happy or disappointed with my performance, but I’m proud of how I handled myself throughout the tournament.
“I’ve been extremely professional and have done my utmost to represent my country with pride and honor. I hope that my country is pleased and proud of what I’ve achieved. Even though I lost tonight, I can still bring home a bronze medal.
“I thought I had won, but it’s the heat of the moment. I felt like I won the bout, but I’m not going to cry robbery, as it was close. It’s too soon to claim anything like that. He was a strong opponent, seeded second in the tournament. I’m happy with my performances this week. I thought I had done enough, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be.
“I believe that things happen for a reason, and I will come back stronger from this. It’s the losses that shape you as a person; it’s about how you rebound from setbacks. I’m resilient and will return stronger, believing I have an exciting future ahead.”
But where to next? Logic suggests that Richardson, 27, will likely transition from the amateur circuit as lucrative opportunities await him. He didn’t dismiss this notion but is understandably taking time to reflect on his future. “The typical trajectory is often into the professional ranks,” he stated.
“It’s been an incredibly busy year, so I’d like to go home, relax, and recuperate with those who have supported me. I also want to celebrate my bronze medal. I believe I’ve opened doors for myself, and I’m optimistic about my future.
“It’s still quite fresh; it’s hard to process at the moment. I secured that bronze medal on Tuesday night but didn’t celebrate because I was focused on changing the color of that medal.”
In the broader sporting context, Team GB’s boxing division faced a rocky start, with five of their six fighters eliminated in the first round. Richardson steadied the ship and, to some extent, will mitigate the scrutiny on the state of British amateur boxing. Delicious Orie, one of the early exits, was present in the audience to cheer on Richardson.
In the gold medal match, Verde will compete against Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev of Uzbekistan, who advanced by defeating the USA’s Omari Jones in an exciting opening bout of the evening. Jones’s gumshield flew out twice during the fight. Muydinkhujaev, a 23-year-old making his Olympic debut, demonstrated a variety of punches and solid defense, indicating that Verde will face a formidable challenge in the final. Ultimately, it will all come down to the judges’ opinions—or more specifically, their declarations.
