Richardson was Great Britain’s last medal hope after a slew of early defeats for Team GB’s vital, including a controversial loss for much-fancied heavyweight Delicious Orie.
But the Colchester fighter also fell victim to a controversial split-decision victory which left the 27-year-old ‘devastated’ and forced to settle for a bronze medal.
‘It’s devastating, it’s raw. I’ve stepped out of the ring moments ago so emotions are very high,’ Richardson reflected to the BBC after the loss.
‘Obviously disappointed to miss out on the final and box for a gold on Friday night.
‘Initial disappointment but I hope to look back and be really proud of what I have achieved because I have created history within my city, Colchester.
‘I’m the only British boxer to medal at these Games so hopefully I will look back with pride and happiness in the future.’
Richardson lost the first round but responded emphatically in the second against number two seed Verde, winning the round 4-1 on the judges’ scorecard on Court Philippe Chatrier.
A tight third round looked to have gone the way of Richardson – the fresher of the two fighters come the final bell – but the Brit was instead forced to settle for bronze, Team GB’s sole boxing medal of these Paris Games.
‘It’s hard to say at this moment I’ve just stepped out the ring, I’ll have to go back and analyse it but it was close, it was a 3-2 split decision,’ he added.
‘Two of the judges went for me, three went against me, every round was competitive and close and that’s amateur boxing. It’s just a flip of the coin sometimes and in this case it didn’t go my way.’
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after the fight, however, boxing reporter Steve Bunce was far sterner in his assessment of the fight, suggesting he was ‘amazed’ Richardson had not earned the decision victory.
‘I thought Lewis had done enough in that last round to win, so to lose that on all five scorecards, that being the only round of the fight that one of the boxers won outright. I am absolutely amazed,’ he said.
‘Verde Alvarez had nothing left in the last 60 seconds. Lewis was dominating, he was enjoying himself, he was hitting shots and picking Verde off.
‘It wasn’t a robbery but do believe that Lewis Richardson was harshly treated there. He should be walking his way into Friday’s final.’
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