LOWESTOFT'S Anthony Ogogo has received further plaudits after securing an Olympic medal.

The talented 23-year-old moved one step closer to realising his golden dream as he reached the semi finals last night at the London Olympics boxing hall at the ExCeL arena.

Some of boxing's top names reserved special praise for the Nirvana BC man after his impressive 15-10 victory against Germany's Stefan Hartel in the men's middleweight 75kg division quarter-final.

World super middleweight champion Carl Froch said: 'Well done for securing at least a bronze medal....on the way to GOLD.'

Speaking after Ogogo's bout last night, Richie Woodhall, Olympic bronze medallist and boxing commentator, said: 'Ogogo is a true champion. Congratulations, Anthony. Terrific.'

The former Kirkley High School pupil is now out for revenge as he plots his path to the final with a last four showdown with Brazilian Esquiva Falcao Florentino on Friday afternoon (3pm).

And knowing victory would crown him with at least a silver medal as well as a shot at becoming Olympic champion, the Team GB boxer is out to avenge a defeat against the Brazilian at the world championships last year - which meant Ogogo had to qualify for the Olympics in the European Championships in April this year.

At the time, the Lowestoft lad was hampered by a severe shoulder injury that needed an operation after last year's tournament - leaving him with a race against time to prepare for the Europeans in Turkey.

But having overcome the odds, and now secure an Olympic medal, Ogogo - speaking on social networking site Twitter last night - said: 'I'm taking some bling home to Mummy!! The support has been truly phenomenal. The roar of that crowd is awe inspiring. Thank you. Thank you!!

'I'm boxing the Brazilian next. He beat me at the world champs last year and left me heartbroken, I can smell some redemption cooking up!! One final thank you to every British supporter cheering from the crowd or shouting at the TV. You continue to inspire the whole team.'

The Brazilian however warned Ogogo:

'I have not come here for bronze. I have come here for gold. I know it will be a very hard fight for me because my adversary will be English. I will watch what he does best and try to break him.'

Last night, former world heavyweight champion and BBC pundit Lennox Lewis said: 'Anthony Ogogo has got to be feeling good. It was a lot of work in there. It's step by step - three fights down, now the next one.'

In his Olympic boxing column for the BBC, Lewis added: 'I was really impressed with Anthony Ogogo in his middleweight quarter-final. I know Anthony's mum is ill and he's done very well to put all the negative things aside. He wants to win this thing and that's what it takes to be an Olympic champion.'