Boxing on home soil will still be an advantage, even without fans.
So says Pat McCormack after boxing’s Road to Tokyo was re-opened.
The European Olympic qualifying event, which was suspended in mid-March at London’s Copper Box Arena, will return to the venue on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park between April 22-26.
Only three days of the event were possible earlier this year before the Coronavirus outbreak forced its postponement.
Sadly, when the cast reassembles in the East End they will almost certainly be performing without spectators.
But McCormack insists qualifying in London will still work in his and Team GB’s favour.
“It’s a relief that the re-scheduled event has been confirmed and now gives us all something to work towards and focus on,” said the world’s number one welterweight.
“Knowing it will be in this country again is great for us and I am sure it will help, even if fans are not allowed in the venue.”
Given the length of time between the original competition and the re-staged date, McCormack would be forgiven to think it would have been quicker to walk to Japan for the Olympic Games.
But the 25-year-old is fully focused on clearing this qualifying hurdle and challenging for Olympic gold following his silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.
“It’s been a long wait,” said the Birtley ABC star.
“But we can see the road ahead now and can focus on qualifying and then going to Tokyo and doing the business.”
Covid safety protocols, set out by the UK Government and the IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF), will be in place which means it will be held behind closed doors.
It will resume where the first event left off and be based on the original draw with 50 qualification places available for the men and 27 for women.
Two of the Brits, flyweight, Galal Yafai, and featherweight, Peter McGrail, have already booked their places in Tokyo, though they will be looking to progress as far as possible as performances at the qualifier.
Pat McCormack, who had not taped up his gloves before the 2020 qualifier was called off, will meet Monaco’s Hugo Micallef in the last 16.
Twin brother Luke is in action at U63 kilos, where he will tackle Turkey’s Tugrul Han Erdemir in the last 16.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: GB Boxing
