Small detail shows the tragedy that is spurring on Aussie fighter Charlie Senior at the Paris Olympics
- Charlie Senior has grandfather's name on mouthguard
- The Aussie missed his grandfather Dennis's funeral
- He will take home a medal at the Paris Olympics
Charlie Senior has promised the 'fight of the tournament' and synchronised backflips as he chases more Australian boxing history in Paris - and pays a touching tribute to his late grandad.
Already assured the country's first medal in the 57kg category, the Perth 22-year-old has his sights on Australia's first Olympic gold after upsetting Filipino Carlo Paalam in a comeback, 3-2 split decision at North Paris Arena on Saturday.
In Olympic boxing the beaten semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals, meaning Senior is already guaranteed the county's seventh piece of Games hardware in the sport.
Senior wears a gumshield etched with the name of his grandfather Dennis, who passed away last year after losing his battle with cancer.
The Australian missed Dennis's funeral before the Olympic qualifiers last December, with Senior unable to make the trip over to England - the country of his birth - to pay his respects.
'I was unfortunately not able to go to the funeral or see him (before he passed),' Senior told the Sydney Morning Herald.
'That was my piece for him. My mum and dad and my little sister are here. My grandma, Dennis' wife, she's here and travelled from England. She's supporting me and that's a big thing.'
'You can't be there for everything. I've missed a lot. But I'd do it again. I'm missing things for the right reasons and I'm sure I'm making him proud.'
Charlie Senior will take home at least a bronze medal from the Paris Games
Senior has the name of his grandad Dennis etched onto his mouthguard
After his bout on Sunday morning, Senior paid tribute to his grandad again.
'He's pushing me, it's giving me that extra edge,' he said.
'I know, for him he'd want this. I might not have been there when I wanted to but this is making up for it, and I know this is what he wants.'
After Harry Garside broke a 33-year medal drought to win bronze in Tokyo, Senior wants to be the first to stand on the top step once competition moves to Roland Garros next week.
'This feels amazing. It's a dream come true,' he said.
'I thought I'd won. I knew the rounds were close and going into the third I knew it was all down to that round.
'But finishing the third I knew I could box cleaner, get out of the way and score the points.
'It's not about hitting as hard as you can, it's about boxing, getting it done and winning the fight.'
He'll face Abdumalik Khalokov on Thursday in a rematch of last year's world championship semi-final won by the Uzbek in Tashkent.
Those Uzbekistan fans were in Senior's corner though on Saturday, the Australian endearing them a year earlier when the two fighters performed post-fight backflips and embraced.
'I heard them chanting; that was unbelievable,' he said of his bonus fan base.
'It's a rematch. It will be the fight of the tournament.'
Australian boxing captain Caitlin Parker has a quarter-final fight on Sunday, while super heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana was beaten by the defending champion in his quarter-final on Friday.
Senior has his sights on Australia's first Olympic gold after upsetting Filipino Carlo Paalam in a comeback, 3-2 split decision at North Paris Arena on Saturday
Senior paid tribute to his grandad saying that he is giving him an extra edge
The other nine Australian boxers - including Garside - who qualified by winning their division at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, were all beaten in their opening fights.
Senior rebounded after three of the five judges handed his opponent a tight first round, rolling the dice and pressing forward against his smaller opponent.
It was enough to swing one judge, Irish official Ben McGarrigle splitting the rounds to create a scenario where his third-round vote would decide the victor.
Senior's teammates celebrated wildly when he was one of three judges to give the third round to the Australian.
With a medal secured, Senior is in a unique position but says he's not satisfied.
'Being humble is my main priority here. You go in, get the job done, enjoy it for the night, then go back and reset and refocus,' he said.
'You don't come here for a bronze and, if you do, that's why you don't win the bronze.
'You come here for the final result, that gold medal, and you aim for that. I am happy with a bronze, but I'm not leaving with it.'
