Boxing Preview: Colin Lynes – Young Muttley

Tonight at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, Matchroom Boxing puts on a solid card featuring the sterling main event of British Light Welter Champion Colin Lynes putting his belt at risk against ex-British Welter titlist Young Muttley and they also will be competing for the vacant European Light Welter title.

This contest cannot fail to be anything less than a barn burner for as long as it lasts, with both fighters understanding they may never again be in a position to try for a European title, particularly without having to unseat a reigning champion in a foreign country.

While this contest is at light welter, both men have fought extensively at welterweight as well as a few bouts as high as light middle.

Muttley, 22-2 (12), has fought the better competition as a welter, winning a close split decision over reigning British Champion Michael Jennings in January, 2006 but losing the title next fight in a hard fought slugfest by tenth round stoppage at the hands of Commonwealth king Kevin Anderson.

Lynes, 29-3 (11), has fought the better men at light welter, losing a well fought bid to knock off triple champion Junior Witter almost two years ago, suffering a ninth round stoppage against Lenny Daws last year and posting a split decision victory over Pablo Sarmiento to win the IBO crown in 2004.

Most recently, Lynes took the British 140 lb title from Scotsman Barry Morrison via a unanimous decision while Muttley stayed busy by posting a six round points decision in January over Polish journeyman Arek Malek, who ironically faced and lost to Lynes just two months later.

Getting onto the present, this is a very dangerous defense for Lynes as Muttley will likely represent the greatest combination of pressure and strength that the Londoner has faced to date in his career.

But Muttley cannot simply go forth slugging, as Morrison discovered, because Lynes most likely won’t be drawn into the trenches.

For Lynes to hold onto his title, he’ll have to box clever off the back foot, making Muttley pay for missing all night long with sharp counter shots.

Muttley musn’t chase Lynes around the ring but rather cut off the canvas and wear the champion down by making him work hard and closing the distance where Muttley’s left hook can take away the movement of Lynes and force a fight.

On the undecard, the man with one of the best nicknames in the sport, Jozsef “Shatter Machine” Matolcsi, 26-9 (18), of Hungary, defends his WBF Light Middle crown against West Bromwich man Marcus Portman, 16-5 (2).

Unbeaten Pole Grzegorz Proksa, 10-0 (6), puts his WBC and IBF Middleweight Youth belts on line against Romanian novice Vitali Banivur, 4-2 (3).

The undercard features a few big names on the domestic UK scene as well, with ex-Irish Middleweight Champ Matthew Macklin, 17-2 (13), making his return to the ring after losing a ferocious challenge to British 154 lb Champion Jamie Moore last September as well as former European Middleweight title challenger Steve Bendall who is also on the bill.