Lewis Richardson saves Group GB from Olympic boxing wipeout as Cindy Ngamba excels in opposition to world champion Tammara Thibeault

Lewis Richardson, the final Group GB boxer left within the Olympic Video games, recorded a primary win for his group when he outscored Vakhid Abbasov on cut up choice in his opening contest.

GB boxing was teetering on the point of shedding each one in every of their bouts at Paris 2024, as their medals hopes had tumbled one after the other within the preliminary stage, in a marketing campaign that has been marred by a number of contentious judging selections.

It meant nevertheless that the stress on Richardson was acute, particularly going up in opposition to a European gold medallist within the Russia-born Serb.

A southpaw, like Abbasov, the Colchester man appeared to search out his vary with jabs. They fenced for place, feinting with twitching shoulders as they appeared to set off a mistake.

Richardson circled spherical his opponent, touchdown the occasional stable counter left, however quick jabs from Abbasov snuck by way of.

The Serbian shaded the primary spherical. However Richardson got here out for the second spherical positively, taking the centre of the ring and he landed one of the best punch of the bout, a cracking quick left excessive that shook up Abbasov.

He introduced himself again into the competition however nonetheless had all of it to do within the third spherical.

With the end result finely poised neither man may afford an error.

They probed at one another with jabs, although Richardson edged a few of their exchanges with stable counter-punching. It was simply sufficient to tip the scoring his manner.

He got here by way of with a cut up choice win and bellowed with delight on the final result.

Richardson will now field Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash within the 71kgs quarter-final on Saturday evening.

Earlier on Wednesday GB middleweight Chantelle Reid misplaced her opening contest, however the Derby boxer may nonetheless take pleasure in a exceptional comeback that led her to those Video games.

Reid had spent six years out of the game after being recognized with degenerative disc illness, solely returning final 12 months. She managed to win a spot on GB and qualify for Paris.

However she was drawn in opposition to Morocco’s Khadija Mardi, a world gold medallist up at heavyweight (81&kgs).

Mardi had substantial benefit in measurement and attain however Reid boxed fantastically within the opening spherical of the competition, transferring nimbly and catching the Moroccan with fast mixtures.

Mardi discovered her vary within the second spherical. The third spherical was fought onerous, with Reid touchdown effectively but once more however Mardi was pressuring to maintain it shut and he or she pocketed a cut up choice.

Reid may effectively be again although. “I’ve really enjoyed being on Team GB, I’ve not been on here long so four more years isn’t out of the picture,” she stated afterwards.

“I’m grateful to be here with the best team, best coaches, best support staff. I’m boxing with the best in the world. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m just so grateful to be an Olympian and that’s not going to be taken off me so. That is going to stay with me for the rest of my life.

“Two years in the past I by no means envisioned this. Final January I got here again aiming to win the [national] championships not to mention qualify for the Olympics. However, yeah, I am an Olympian and I am pleased with myself, pleased with my graft, proud I gave 100 per cent in my efficiency and that is all I may have requested myself to do.”

Essentially the most spectacular efficiency from a UK-based boxer got here from Cindy Ngamba.

Ngamba, now 25, has lived in England since she was 11 years outdated. She is a three-time three-weight England Boxing nationwide champion from Bolton and trains with the GB squad in Sheffield, however and not using a passport she has not been in a position to signify Britain at these Video games.

Initially from Cameroon, she has refugee standing. She’s even beforehand confronted the specter of deportation from the Residence Workplace, however Cameroon is unsafe for LGBTQ+ folks so it will be harmful for Ngamba to be despatched to the nation, which she left as a baby.

A spot on the IOC’s refugee group has allowed Ngamba to field internationally. She certified for the Video games, solely to be drawn in opposition to Canada’s middleweight world gold medallist Tammara Thibeault in her first bout.

The duty forward of her turned that a lot more durable, when Thibeault handed her a standing rely within the opening seconds of the competition.

Ngamba was a spherical down, in opposition to a top-class southpaw with a harmful again hand. However she rose to the event magnificently.

Ngamba closed down the area between them and labored in booming photographs. She wrested the second around her manner and continued to harry Thibeault within the third and final.

They fought to a close to standstill however Ngamba discovered the solutions to overtake Thibeault and seize a memorable victory, taking a cut up choice win.

“Being here means the world to me, and I hope it means the world to many other people,” Ngamba stated.

“I hope that them watching me, they can see that through anything in life I was able to overcome.”

Launching this August, Sky Sports activities+ will probably be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app – giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this 12 months at no additional price. Stream The brand new EFL season, Check cricket and extra high sport with NOW.