COLCHESTER boxer Lewis Richardson wants to catch the eye of the Great Britain coaches and a national audience when he goes for glory at the GB Boxing Championships tonight.

Richardson, 20, fights for England against Jordan Reynolds and is looking to make a big impression, at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The prestigious one-day competition, which will be screened live on Boxnation, will see the leading Great Britain boxers compete to be crowned GB Boxing Champion for 2017.

It is a key time for the Essex University Boxing Club member, who will also go on the hunt for the National Association Boys and Girls Clubs (NABC) title in Gateshead on Monday.

Richardson said: “It’s a fight I think I can win and it’s one we’ve been waiting for, for a long time.

“I have to put the National final out of my head and focus purely on England.

“It’s a big opportunity for me on Thursday and I want to make a statement.

“It’s live on TV on Box Nation and there will be people like potential promoters watching, along with Great Britain and England coaches.

“There’s nothing better than to represent your country and it’s a big chance.

“I got the call from England last week and it’s a massive opportunity for me – if I win, it’s a foot in the door.

“Getting in the Great Britain squad would increase my profile massively and that’s what I’m hoping for.

“There will be members of the Great Britain Olympic squad competing, who get funded and train in Sheffield.

“I feel confident and fit and I’ve been training hard for the Nationals, which has stood me in good stead.”

Richardson will go into the bout in good form having safely booked his place in the NABC final.

He will now take on Bradley Goldsmith at the start of next week, aiming to claim his third title in the competition.

Richardson beat Lydney’s Liam O’Hare in his semi-final staged in Bristol on a unanimous decision, to keep his hopes of a fourth title of the season on track.

“It was a good bout and very competitive,” said Richardson, who has won the Eindhoven Box Cup and Celtic Box Cup already this season, along with the ABA title.

“He was very physical and coming forward all the time.

“It’s always good to be out there, competing against different styles.

“But it was a comfortable victory and good preparation for me ahead of the England bout - I want to end the season on a winning note.”

It was only Richardson’s second bout of this year’s NABC competition, after he received byes in two of the rounds.