COLCHESTER boxer Lewis Richardson will get the chance to secure a place at this summer's Paris 2024 after being selected for the next Olympic qualifying event.

The 26-year-old is one of ten GB Boxing pugilists to be selected for the second Olympic qualifier, which takes place in Italy in March.

Light-middleweight (71kg) Richardson has been selected after impressing at recent tournaments including the World Boxing Cup in Sheffield last week.

Richardson scooped a silver at the competition after a split decision defeat against Denmark’s European Games champion Nikolai Terteryan in his final at the GB Open event.

 

GB Boxing’s Performance Director Rob McCracken, said: “We have strength-in-depth in quiet a few weight categories, so it is always difficult selecting teams for Olympic qualifying events, which are hugely significant for the boxers.

"But we have analysed their recent performances and gone with boxers whose form and fitness indicates they have a good chance of qualifying at the next event.

“Qualifying for an Olympic Games in boxing is very tough and, while we expect our boxers to perform well in Italy, previous experience shows that we are likely to send boxers to the third and final qualifier, so those that have not made it this time need to continue to work and train hard and make sure they are ready to take the opportunity, if or when we come to select boxers for the final qualifier.”

A total of 59 places at Paris 2024 are on offer at the event, which takes place in Busto Arsizio near Milan between March 4 and 11.

It will include male and female boxers from around the world and is overseen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

It is officially known as the ‘1st World Qualification Tournament’.

It is the second qualifying opportunity for boxers from Great Britain after last summer’s Europe Qualification Tournament at The European Games in Krakow, Poland.

The third and final qualifying opportunity for boxers to make it to Paris will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 26-June 2.