Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson, 28, set for professional boxing debut at stadium where he used to sell pies
LEWIS RICHARDSON flogged Pukka Pies as a schoolboy in the same Ipswich stadium he'll earn his first real crust in on Saturday.
The 2024 Olympic bronze winner helped put himself through his GCSEs and A-levels by serving up grub to hungry Tractor Boys at Portman Road over a decade ago.
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And the Colchester southpaw will break into the paid ranks by filling in Dmitri Protkunas, just down the road from his family home in a dream debut.
He told SunSport: 'Despite it being so close, this is probably the first time I have been in Ipswich for a year.
'I came for one night out here when I was younger but I quickly realised that I had to stay true to my roots back in Colchester.
'I did do some matchday shifts here, though, serving up the Pukka Pies.
'I did the same job at Colchester when I was around 16 and when Ipswich were short staffed a few times, we got the call to come over - and now I am boxing here, it's crazy.
'I thought a London debut at York Hall or Wembley Arena was going to be a perfect start but Ipswich football stadium is unreal.
'All the friends and family who have talked about attending my first pro fight would have had to book trains or hotels.
'But we don't even need to arrange minibuses for anyone, it's a 29 minute drive from my front door, so everyone is happy sharing taxis for a great night.'
Richardson turned 28 on Wednesday but had to bin his birthday plans to make the middleweight limit for this weekend.
The spicy celebrations have been pushed back but the silky southpaw plans to put in a curry order worthy of a Gavin and Stacey special, to make up for the diet.
'The birthday is postponed for four days,' he revealed to us. 'The party is pushed back to Sunday.
'I have a curry house booked in Colchester for 15 of us and my mouth is watering just talking to you about it now.
'I can't even think about my order now.
"But I can say for sure that I will sound like Smithy with the number of bhunas and naans and rice types I am going to order.'
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