COLIN Lynes and Gavin Rees are joint favourites to win Friday’s Prizefighter Light-Welterweights. The pair are both priced at 11/4 to lift the trophy in Barry Hearn’s latest eight-man, one-night tournament. Rees is a former WBA World Champion but has a tough opener against former European Champion Ted Bami, while Lynes faces former British Champion David Barnes in the quarter-finals. Barnes and Lynes had been scheduled to fight last year before Barnes broke a hand just two weeks before the fight..
However, Barnes, who has been out of action for 17 months, has taunted Lynes by claiming the Essex man is not the fighter he used to be.
“I think Lynes has had his best days in the past,” said Barnes. “He has boxed some good kids and (current European Champion) Paul McCloskey is not bad but he came in as a last-minute replacement for me and took Lynes apart.
“McCloskey did that from a southpaw stance and I don’t think Lynes likes southpaws.”
Lynes, who has previously held the European and British titles, fully expects to beat Barnes, win Prizefighter and return to title contention.
He helped train Michael Lomax to victory in last year’s Prizefighter Welterweights competition and will use that as inspiration to claim the £32,000 winner’s prize.
“I’m really pleased the fans get to see me fight Barnes,” added Lynes. “It’s a really good draw and they get to see a fight that I wanted to happen a year ago. Instead of 12 chess-like rounds they now get to see three explosive rounds so the fans are the real benefactors.
“I have been mentally prepared to fight Barnes and it has been on my mind for a long time.
“My sparring has been perfect. I helped Michael Lomax get ready to win Prizefighter and that’s a big factor.
“I’m sparring with Michael and he has been there and done it. We had a Prizefighter training programme in place for Michael and we’ve looked at that and improved it.
“Michael’s told me to not go looking for massive shots but to just go out there relaxed but focused. I helped him win and saw what he achieved and I’m doing the same programme and a bit more so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t achieve the same.”
At today’s weigh-in Bami was the heaviest of the eight contenders, who all made the 10st 3lb weight limit at the first attempt.
Prizefighter Light-Welterweights
To win their quarter-finals
1. Michael Grant 8/11 v Jason Cook evens
2. Gavin Rees 2/5 v Ted Bami 7/4
3. Colin Lynes 8/13 v David Barnes 6/5
4. Barrie Jones 8/13 v Young Mutley 6/5
To win the competition outright (as on SkyBet.com on Thursday, December 3)
11/4 Colin Lynes, Gavin Rees
5/1 David Barnes
7/1 Ted Bami, Michael Grant
10/1 Barrie Jones, Jason Cook
16/1 Young Mutley
Weights
Ted Bami 10st 2lb 14oz
Gavin Rees 10st 2lb 8oz
Colin Lynes 10st 2lb 4oz
Young Mutley 10st 2lb 2oz
Jason Cook 10st 1lb 12oz
David Barnes 10st 1lb 1oz
Michael Grant 10st 1lb 1oz
Barrie Jones 10st 1lb 1oz
Reserves
Peter McDonagh 10st 2lb 11oz
Jonny Rocco 10st 2lb 9oz