Lewis Richardson trained by Ipswich coach secures medal

Simon Mullan, 47, is a welding lecturer at Ipswich's Suffolk New College who has coached Team GB boxer Lewis Richardson, from Colchester, since he was 13.

Mr Mullan - who sparred against Joe Calzaghe as a youngster - can’t be in Paris as he is currently refereeing at the school boxing European Championships in Bosnia.

He is cheering Richardson on from afar, as the 27-year-old secured at least a bronze medal by qualifying for the semi-finals of men's welterweight boxing. 

His bout to go further will be against Mexico's Marco Verde at 8.45pm on Tuesday.

Even if Richardson loses against the Mexican, he will at least receive a bronze as per Olympic boxing rules.

Richardson's run to the semi-finals has been the one bright spot for Team GB's fighters in the boxing, with other competitors losing in the early rounds.

Mr Mullan has coached Richardson since he was 13. (Image: Suffolk New College)

Richardson will have his semi-final bout on Tuesday. (Image: Isabel Infantes/PA)

"His dream was to get to the Olympics and he has done that," Mr Mullan said.

"So now he feels like he has already won - and every bout going forward - he has nothing to lose.

“When they raised his hand (after his previous fight, confirming he was guaranteed a medal) I was speechless.

"I felt at peace – and just thought ‘he has done it’."

Simon Mullan said the boxer still has more to give. (Image: Simon Mullan/Suffolk New College)

The coach added at a point Richardson did not expect he would go to Paris, as he had to lose a lot of weight to reach the new requirements of his category.

Mr Mullan said: "He is over-succeeding, and he still has more to give.”

Mr Mullan feels the Team GB boxer is thriving under pressure and the more people doubt him the more he will succeed.

He said the boxer is confident and happy for his bout on Tuesday.

Mr Mullan said: "I also say make sure that he is sleeping well. And I also ask him questions about himself - and make sure he is eating well and relaxed.

"I’m sad I can’t be there, but he is having the time of his life - and I couldn’t be more proud of him."

Lewis Richardson qualified for the semi-finals by beating Jordan's Zeyad Eashash on Saturday. (Image: Isabel Infantes/PA)

Richardson got to this point in the men's welterweight boxing beating Jordan's Zeyad Eashash on Saturday.

Mr Mullan said he was calm watching the fight as he saw Richardson box confidently through the tie.

He joked: “I watched the bronze medal fight in my hotel - we struggled to get it on the TV - so I watched it on a phone with someone from Serbia.

"He didn’t speak any English - and I kept saying ‘that’s my lad’ - but I don’t think he understood me.”