Boxing’s Road to Tokyo is so close the fighters can almost see it.
And for Luke McCormack, he does not just to be part of the journey, he wants to be part of Team GB’s medal tally.
The 24-year-old must qualify first – like all the boxers wishing to fight in Japan this summer – with the European qualification event taking place in London from March 14-24.
“It will be unbelievable and I feel ready,” said the light-welterweight, from Washington.
“I’ve boxed all the best kids in the world but you need to get on the medal stage.
“Just to be seen at the Olympics is good but as a boxer you want to be fighting for medals.”
McCormack, whose twin Pat is one of the favourites for a medal at Tokyo at welterweight, is not short of podium appearances in this Olympic cycle.
Luke took silver at the 2017 European Championships, bronze at the Commonwealth Games the following year and bronze at last year’s European Games.
At the World Championships, many observers felt he was unlucky to exit in the last 16 in Yekaterinburg, where he lost by a 3-2 split decision to number six seed, Leonel de los Santos.
“I let myself get distracted, my preparation wasn’t what it should have been,” he told punch-lines.
“I was training hard here (in Sheffield) during the week then having the weekend off, instead of doing everything right and being full steam ahead.
“That’s in the past now, a test run, I am fully focused.
“I will be looking to box at the next level in a few weeks time.”
Click here to view the Boxing Road to Tokyo website’s lowdown of which fighters box when in London.
The McCormack brothers are regulars at all the big tournaments in the GB vest, though not in Rio in 2016 when Pat qualified while Luke was not selected for the qualification process.
Now, the Birtley ABC stars (Pat pictured left and Luke right) will both be at the Copperbox Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from March 14 and, unless there is a serious mishap, each twin should be on the plane to Tokyo.
“It’s great we are both here together supporting each other,” said Luke, who says it will be a tremendous achievement for Birtley to have two boxers at sport’s biggest show on earth.
“It will be fantastic for the club, one Olympian in Rio and two this time.
“It doesn’t get much better than that does it?”
Words: Roy Kelly
