Lewis Richardson will walk away with a bronze medal following a disappointing semi-final defeat that has left boxing fans convinced he was unjustly denied victory over Mexico’s Marco Verde.
In the semi-final bout on Tuesday, Richardson faced Verde for a place in the men’s 71kg final, just before Imane Khelif fought to secure her spot in the gold medal contest. Many observers believed Richardson had done enough to win and earn a shot at gold on Friday.
However, the judges awarded the fight to Verde by a split decision, with a score of 3-2, prompting an outcry among fans who took to social media to call the outcome a “robbery.” One user remarked, “Is there anything more corrupt than boxing judges in the Olympics? Lewis Richardson has been f**king robbed there.”
Another supporter tweeted, “Lewis Richardson won that fight; there’s honestly nothing as corrupt as boxing in the Olympics.” A third added, “Lewis Richardson robbed. Boxing is the most corrupt sport around.”
Citing Michael Conlan’s notorious rant from the 2016 Olympics, one user echoed, “In the words of @mickconlan11, boxing stinks.” Another critic stated, “Lewis Richardson, you have been robbed blind. You won the last two rounds— the final round was even clearer than the second—yet all five judges gave it to the Mexican. When will this sport change? It makes me sick.”
Boxing expert Steve Bunce also sided with Richardson, saying, “I thought Lewis had done enough in that last round to win. I’m amazed. Verde had nothing left; Lewis had dominated. I am disappointed.”
After securing the bronze medal, Richardson expressed his feelings, stating, “It is devastating, that’s a good word. It’s raw; I’ve just stepped out of the ring moments ago, so emotions are running high. I’m obviously disappointed to miss out on the final and boxing for gold on Friday night.”
Despite his initial disappointment, Richardson acknowledged his achievement: “I hope to look back and feel extremely proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’ve made history in my city of Colchester, being the only British boxer to medal at these Games. I hope in the future I can reflect on this with pride and happiness.”
Credit: Sport Bible
