15.01.06 – Hennessy Sports promoted Lenny Daws takes on proven championship operator Colin Lynes on Friday 20th January at the York Hall in Bethnal Green in what promises to be a sensational final eliminator for the British light welterweight title vacated yesterday by Junior Witter. The standout Morden fighter was due to meet former Commonwealth champion James Armah, but an alternative opponent had to be sourced when contract issues ruled the Ghanaian out..
The highly rated Lynes, who was already due to appear on the show, jumped at the opportunity to bounce back from his 117-112, 116-112, 115-114 points defeat to British, Commonwealth and European champion Junior Witter last October.
His decision sets up what promises to be a real old fashioned 50-50 affair, fitting to kick off SKY Sports coverage of boxing in 2006.
“There might not be a title on the line, but this has definitely worked out for the best,” said Daws. “I am glad to be facing Lynes rather than Armah. Whilst Lynes might be a bit tougher, this is a much better fight for me.
“It’s perfect at this stage of my career. I am coming off a win over Oscar Hall in my first Championship contest – (an English title final eliminator shown on Sky) – and now I get to test myself against a respected fighter, ranked #3 in Britain by Boxing News behind only Junior Witter and Ricky Hatton.
“Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter, (also promoted by Hennessy Sports), aside, I now have the opportunity to prove that I am the best light welterweight in Britain. A win will open up all kinds of opportunities and definitely increase my profile.”
Former ABA champion and Multi Nations Gold medallist ‘Lightening’ added: “This is a much better fight for the boxing fans as well. It just goes to show that you don’t need a title on the line to make for a great contest.
“People know Colin Lynes. He has a good amateur pedigree, has fought and beaten good opposition and been featured on SKY plenty of times. He has a good, solid reputation.
“A lot of people are going to be looking at this step up for me and thinking ‘that’s a toughie’. A lot of pundits might just give him the nod over me given his experience. Hopefully, given where we are both at, this will be a highly anticipated fight.”
Despite the task he faces the unbeaten Daws, 12-0(5), is in bullish mood:
“I have seen a fair bit of Lynes. He is a talented, technical box fighter who is normally aggressive, but can be very cute when he needs to be – as he demonstrated against Witter.
“I am going to have my work cut out. It’s going to be a gruelling fight, but I am confident that I am going to come away with the win. I might even get the stoppage.”
Success will obviously line Daws up for an immediate shot at the British title. His co-challenger will be Hartlepool’s Nigel Wright, who already holds the English title that Daws has won a final eliminator for. History suggests that the Hennessy Sports fighter will come out on top when the pair meet.
“I fought Wright in the amateurs, in the Class C NABC finals,” explained the 27-year-old Daws. “It was at 60kg, so neither of us have put on much since.
“I stopped him in the third round. I caught him with a combination and then kept unloading. I put on too much pressure and he couldn’t take any more; the ref stopped it.
“It was a close fight in the first couple of rounds, he may have even nicked them, but when I picked up the pace he couldn’t live with me. I think the same thing would happen again.”
Full bill:
HS:BOX
20th January 2006
York Hall, Bethnal Green
12 x 3 British Light Welterweight Championship Final Eliminator
Lenny Daws vs. Colin Lynes
(Morden) (Hornchurch)
10 x 3 Super Featherweight contest
Billy Corcoran vs. TBA
(Wembley) ()
8 x 3 Light Middleweight contest
Darren Barker vs. Richard Mazurek
(Barnet) (Leamington)
8 x 3 Welterweight contest
John O’Donnell vs. Matt Scriven
(Shepherd’s Bush) (Nottingham)
8 x 3 Middleweight contest
Matthew Thirlwall vs. Donovan Smilie
(Bermondsey) (Bradford)
6 x 3 Super Middleweight contest
Daniel Cadman vs. TBA
(Waltham Abbey) ()
Tickets: 0870 444 555 6