GB boxers need 'performance of life' after tough draw

Coach Dave Alloway said "it is what it is" after Team GB's boxers were given tough opening draws at the Paris Olympics.

Charley Davison will face bantamweight favourite and 2022 world champion Hatice Akbas of Turkey and middleweight Chantelle Reid was drawn against Morocco’s Khadija Mardi - 2023 world champion.

The men fared slightly better with light-middleweight Lewis Richardson given a bye and heavyweight Patrick Brown drawn against Brazil's Keno Marley Machado.

Super-heavyweight Delicious Orie will meet tricky Armenia Davit Chaloyan - the 2021 world silver medallist.

"It is always going to be tough but it is a mixed bag," Alloway told the BBC. "They are all prepared for it.

"They knew what was coming because the seeds were already announced. It is what it is."

Rosie Eccles was given a more favourable draw against Poland’s Aneta Rygielska but will meet Busenaz Surmenel of Turkey, the queen of the welterweight division, if she progresses to the second round.

The six Team GB boxers are among a reduced number in Paris compared to previous Olympics, which has condensed the talent.

Cindy Ngamba, who trains with Team GB and moved to Bolton aged 10 having been born in Cameroon, is also competing in the middleweight category as part of the Refugee Olympic team.

She was drawn to face the 2022 world champion Tammara Thibeault of Canada.

"It is really tough, really hard," said BBC 5 Live boxing expert Steve Bunce. "Three of the four [women] are fighting current world champions in their first contests.

"The other one, Rosie Eccles, is fighting Rygielska then possibly the tournament's top woman in her second fight. We need performances of their lifetimes.

"Lewis Richardson got a bye and he has every chance of moving close to the medals. Pat Brown has a kid from Brazil, and he has every chance of beating him then a very difficult fight after that.

"Delicious Orie has an Armenian who is a bit of a handful, not easy to watch but effective and he does tire.

"If we walk away with two medals I would be absolutely delighted. But this is a tough draw. They're fighting not just good fighters, but three of our boxers are fighting the best fighter in the world in their weight in the first stage."

Davison will be Britain's first boxer to begin their competition on Saturday at 19:00 BST with the rest to follow.