Hayemaker Boxing: Olusegan vs. Lynes Commonwealth Title Clash April 3

Commonwealth light-welterweight champion Ajose Olusegan will defend his title against former European titleholder Colin Lynes in Manchester on Saturday, April 3rd.

The scheduled 12-round contest will act as one of the chief-support attractions to David Haye’s WBA heavyweight title showdown against John Ruiz, televised live and exclusively on Sky Box Office.

Olusegan and Lynes agreed to meet at the Manchester Evening News Arena, following an injury withdrawal by Scotland’s Lee McAllister. The Aberdeen Assassin’s proposed Commonwealth lightweight title bout with Ben Murphy has since been cancelled.

Light-welterweight champion Olusegan remains one of the most dangerous and avoided campaigners in the British Isles. Originally born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olusegan has competed professionally in Britain since May 2001 and now holds British citizenship. He is unbeaten in 27 professional contests and has ended 13 of his bouts via stoppage.

The Kentish Town southpaw claims career wins over Nigel Wright, Bradley Pryce and Ali Nuumbembe and, at 30 years of age, is determined to gatecrash the world stage. As well as picking up a Commonwealth title at light-welterweight, Olusegan also used his British citizenship to good effect last June, winning the vacant British title against Wright.

Olusegan has since relinquished his Lonsdale title and appears in Manchester as the reigning Commonwealth king and someone destined to go even further. Ranked at number two by the WBC, Olusegan’s long-awaited shot at world honours could arrive in 2010.

Standing in his way on April 3 will be Hornchurch’s experienced and stylish light-welterweight Lynes. The 32-year-old has competed professionally since June 1998 and won both European and British honours as a 140-pound fighter.

Lynes, 33-7 (12 KO), is renowned for his pinpoint jab, great footwork and eye-catching skills. He has defeated top domestic performers like Young Mutley, Barry Morrison and David Barnes (Prizefighter series), and also snared the IBO light-welterweight title from Pablo Sarmiento in 2004. The talented Englishman has met the best his country has had to offer in the light-welterweight division for the past decade. He now looks to rejuvenate his career with victory over Olusegan on April 3.

The 12-round clash between Olusegan and Lynes will not be the only Commonwealth title affair on show in Manchester. Hammersmith’s George Groves will also challenge for the super-middleweight version of the belt against Ghanaian warrior Charles Adamu.