Colin Lynes loses European title to Gianluca Branco

[superheavyrhun]

Branco was landing well in the 8th, but Lynes has been consistently boxing well, and landing much more shots, though without the power of Branco. Going into the last quarter, I have Lynes 87-84, but the commentators have it much closer than that, as Lynes isn't coming forward. If this was anywhere but Italy, this would be convincingly for Lynes, but here....who knows. Branco landed 4 shots last round, against Lynes 20+, yet still the commentators give it to Branco??!??!?

[superheavyrhun]

OK, one round to go now, and Lynes seems to have looked to go more toe-to-toe with Branco. In the tenth he landed some very good shots, and rattled Branco, but I don't think he's got the power to stop him. Branco definitely the stronger, and showed it in the eleventh, outmuscling Lynes. He should box!

106-103 to Lynes on mine, but who knows.

[superheavyrhun]

Branco has a great flurry for the first minute of the round, but he tires, and Lynes doesn't capitalise. He pretty much runs around Branco until the bell, and that's Branco's round.

115-113 to Lynes for me, and that's giving Branco a fair bit of credit for a few of the rounds which were pretty close, but it's in Italy, so if it goes the other way, then I'd be not at all surprised.

[superheavyrhun]

Both fighters give the crowd a round of applause as they await the scores. The commentators have Branco by a round and a draw respectively, but here they come.

Split Decision. 115-113 Lynes; 114-113 Branco; 114-113 Branco.

Very close fight, and Lynes has every right to be aggrieved, but he knew what he was taking on going to Italy. Johnny Nelson doesn't look too impressed in the studio.

[Violent Demise]

I had Branco by UD. Fukk it. SD is better than a lost

[totalboxing1]

I thought Branco did just about enough as Jim Watt did. But going over to Italy you need to win clearly and Lynes should have known this. Shame though I like Lynes, he's a good boxer, just not quite world class. I hope he can come back from this.

[superheavyrhun]

I thought Branco did just about enough as Jim Watt did. But going over to Italy you need to win clearly and Lynes should have known this. Shame though I like Lynes, he's a good boxer, just not quite world class. I hope he can come back from this.

Branco was always going to be the favourite if he could remain competitive in the fight, and I was really expecting it to be significantly wider on the cards than it ended up being. Guy definitely wasn't unbeatable, and a guy with a bit more pop could certainly wrestle that title away from him, but being Italian, it would certainly seem likely that he'll have as many easy defences at home as he can before being put in with a real threat.