COLCHESTER boxer Lewis Richardson is guaranteed a Commonwealth Games medal following his victory over Guernsey's Billy le Poullain this afternoon.

The former Thomas Lord Audley School pupil won his men's middleweight quarter-final in style in Birmingham, securing a unanimous 5-0 win for England.

Four of the five judges gave it to Richardson by a 30-27 margin at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), with the other one scoring it 30-26.

Richardson, 26, will now fight Scotland’s Sam Hickey in the semi-final on Saturday at 12pm.

He said: "I feel like it was a classy performance. I had to have a war in my last fight against the Ugandan [Yusuf Nkobeza]. I felt that I used my skills and attributes better.

“My hands and feet were both fast and I was able to nullify a dangerous opponent who carries power in both hands.

"The crowd just keep getting better and better. It feels extra special to box in front of a home crowd and they give me that extra push in fights.

"I’m excited to run it back again with Sam Hickey and repeat the success I had earlier this year against him in the European Championships in order to get this gold medal."

Speaking on BBC TV, former boxing world champion Richie Woodhall said: "I think in this tournament you have got to show the judges that you can box going forwards as well as backwards.

"Lewis Richardson responded well to a big punch, bit down on his gumshield and really took it to Billy le Poullain."

Prior to beating le Poullain today, Richardson also saw off Wales' Haaris Khan and Uganda's Yusuf Nkobeza in the 75kg category.