—COLCHESTER boxer Lewis Richardson secured a fourth national title – and then immediately set his sights on clinching a place in the Great Britain squad.

The talented 20-year-old was crowned National Association Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) champion, after beating Coventry-based Triumph Amateur Boxing Club’s Bradley Goldsmith on a split decision, in Gateshead.

It is Richardson’s fourth title in the competition, having previously triumphed at Schoolboy, Junior, Youth and Senior (under-22) level.

The win was the perfect way for the Essex University Boxing Club member to respond, following the disappointment of losing his bout for England against Great Britain’s Jordan Reynolds in Sheffield, last Thursday.

Richardson said: “It’s definitely up there with my best achievements so far.

“It was great to bounce back after Thursday and get back to winning ways and finish 2017 on a real high.

“I had to mentally prepare myself after the England bout and it helped that I’m pretty experienced now.

“I was a bit upset after the outcome but I knew I had to regroup and I knew that I had to focus on the final.

“A lot of hard work went into getting the title and I’ve had eight fights in the space of three months but when you win, it makes it all worthwhile.

Richardson was awarded a 4-1 victory against Goldsmith, with four of the judges giving him the verdict.

He said: “Bradley had had a very tough run-in on his way to the final and he beat some of the top kids who I’d had been expecting to come through to the final.

“He stopped his opponent in his semi-final and he came into it with a lot of confidence, so I was really pleased with the win.

“I think the second round was my strongest but I felt that I was doing enough in every round.

“I picked the pace up a bit more then and let the combinations go and they were landing freely.

“By the third round he was getting tired but was still pressurising me so it was nice for me to pick him off a bit more.”

Richardson will now turn his attention to the Great Britain three-day assessment trials that begin in Sheffield tomorrow.

“It would be great to secure a Great Britain place,” added Richardson, who has also secured the Eindhoven Box Cup and Celtic Box Cup this season, along with the ABA title.