Boxing News: Colin Lynes – Alan Bosworth

Proven championship campaigners Alan Bosworth and Colin Lynes will meet in the chief support contest to Lenny Daws’ first defence of his British light welterweight title against mandatory contender Barry Morrison at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on October 20th.

The winners of the two contests on the Hennessy Sports event – being shown live on Sky Sports – could well be facing each other in the near future following the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to sanction Bosworth-Lynes as an eliminator for the domestic 140lb crown.

The news is a massive boost for both. Bosworth – who unsuccessfully challenged Junior Witter for the British Title in 2002 – moves a step back towards fulfilling a lifetime ambition whilst Lynes gets the opportunity to rebuild after two defeats.

“It has always been my dream to win the British Title, now I am potentially only one fight away from achieving that,” said Northampton warrior Bosworth, who has spent his career jumping in at the last minute and holding his own against the likes of Jan Bergman, Eamonn Magee and Shea Neary.

“To me, the British is the most prestigious title in the sport. Northampton has never had a British champion before; I would love to be the first.”

Lynes has also challenged Junior Witter for the domestic championship, taking the now WBC king the distance last October. Witter’s subsequent decision to vacate saw Lynes land the opportunity to fight again for the championship in January, but Daws began his reign by forcing him to quit on his stool after nine high octane rounds.

Inevitably, the Hornchurch fighter sees the Bosworth fight as an opportunity to re-establish himself. He also intends to begin setting the record straight. “That wasn’t the real Colin Lynes in there against Lenny Daws,” said the 28-year-old. “I wasn’t myself that night. People will see that in this fight. This is vital for me; by winning I can put myself right back in the mix amongst Daws or Morrison, whoever comes through.”

Whilst “Bozy’ understandably predicts a tough encounter, he is not fazed at the prospect of fighting Lynes at his best.

“I have wanted to fight Colin for years,” added Bozy, who won the English title in December 2003 with an impressive win over Stephen Smith. “I respect what he has done, but I think he is made for me. It will be fighter vs. boxer – he likes to stand there and pick people off on the back foot, but he won’t be able to do that against me. I love a good war; it’s going to be a hard fought fight, but its mine to win.”

The Hennessy Sports “FIRST DEFENCE’ event, featuring Daws-Morrison and Bosworth-Lynes, takes place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Friday October 20th. Tickets are available on 0870 060 1795. For the full bill please visit www.HennessySports.com.