‘GB stars must get back up’

OLYMPIC bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo knows Team GB’S boxing prospects will be heartbroken that hopes of Tokyo glory this summer have been dashed.

The 13 fighters on the Great Britain squad were due to take part in qualifying between March 14 and 24 but, after three days, the coronavirus pandemic saw the event postponed until May at the earliest.

The postponement of the Games themselves followed and on Monday it was confirmed that they will begin in July 2021 instead.

Ogogo (above), who competed at middleweight in London 2012, said: “It was 100 per cent the right thing to do – we’re in the midst of a global crisis.

“Nobody can care about sport when we are seeing nurses, doctors and so many other people dying.

“But on an individual level it’s hard for them and I feel so sorry for the guys who have had their hopes dashed.

“During my own journey to the Olympic Games squad, I overcame two shoulder operations, I got kicked off the Great Britain team and I fought my way back on to the team.

“Then in my first fight on the GB team I lost on points, 11-1, to somebody who was good but wasn’t that good.

“In the two years after, I had to work so hard to become one of the best amateur boxers on the planet and that transformation from an average international boxer took a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

“If I’d had everything I’d been working for – the chance to represent my country at the Olympic Games – taken away from me at the 11th hour it would have broken my heart. That said, the Great Britain team is an extremely professional set-up and they have some great guys, some great psychologists there, a real good support staff.

“So the team will make sure the boxers are looked after psychologically.”

Dream

Ogogo, who is tipping heavyweight Frazer Clarke and flyweight Charley Davison for Olympic glory next year, spent more than seven years working towards his Olympic dream.

He added: “From 2005, in my head, I just couldn’t foresee the 2012 Olympics without me in it.

“So it has to mess those guys up psychologically.

“But they have to be resilient and understand it’s not 2020, it’s 2021 now... and the ball starts rolling straight away.

“They have some of the best amateur coaches in the world to help them do that – Rob Mccracken and the team are very experienced – so they are in the right place.”