Paul McCloskey v Colin Lynes

sligobhoy67

Paul McCloskey has been handed a surprise British light-welterweight title chance in Dagenham on Friday.

David Barnes has been stripped of the British title after pulling out of his scheduled bout with Colin Lynes.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7760139.stm

Big Ears

**** me this is cracking news, I was excited about Paul being in an 8th rounder on the undercard !

Lynes is a former British, European and IBO Light-Welterweight champion. He's currently ranked 14th by the WBC and #2 in Europe. Paul recently fell out of the WBC's top 40 and is ranked #10 in Europe.

Lynes was imo very unlucky to lose his European title to Gianluca Branco, he fought the wrong fight for most of the second half(having dictated the early stages, flooring Branco in the process) but still deserved the decision imo.

He's got as good a jab as anyone at 140 lbs, he's got very good lateral movement, is a smart fighter and has a nice straight right hand. He's not very good when he's forced into throwing hooks and uppercuts and he loves fighting 'stalking' type of fighters who stand in front and try to apply pressure, which he disrupts with his jab as he breaks them down.

This is a tough fight for Paul, and he must stick to his game plan if he's going to win. He boxed the first two rounds beautifully against Wright but then got dragged into a brawl. Lynes probably won't drag him into a brawl(it wouldn't suit Lynes either) but he could stop Paul from getting into a Rhythm and getting down to business. Paul's got to be at his slickest here, because this is really a huge fight for him and a win opens up huge doors for him.

I'm worried that Paul mightn't be in top shape as he was scheduled to fight in an 8 rounder and wouldn't have needed to be as sharpe as he would for a British title fight. Paul often seems to come in a bit flabby and I just hope he's had a good camp for this.

Lynes won't have to adapt too much, he was scheduled to face a slick Southpaw with a respectable but not huge punch and McCloskey and Barnes are the same height. One big difference is Barnes will back up to the ropes as he looks to counter you, while McCloskey always(rightfully) wants to be in the centre of the ring whether he's in control or not.

I'd love if Paul could win this, it would set him up for a European title shot after a few defences and the British title is nothing to be sniffed at, particularly when you have fighters like Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter, Gavin Rees, Colin Lynes, David Barnes, Lenny Daws, Barry Morrison, Nigel Wright, Ashley Theophane and Scott Haywood at the weight. Okay Hatton and Witter haven't fought down at British level for a long time but I'm illustrating that this is probably the toughest division in British boxing, so being the British champion in it means quite a bit.

Unfortunately I've a bad feeling about this, I think Lynes' better preparation and big fight experience could be the difference and that he'll take a close points win. This would be a good win for Lynes aswell if he were to get it, not quite the scalp of Barnes in British boxing circles eyes but in truth it would be every bit as good, if not a better win for him. I was fancying Lynes to get the better of Barnes.

joepenguin

A win would do wonders for McLoskey! Hopefully Lynes will be thrown by the change of opponent and styles (assuming Barnes is different?)

conceited

Oh yes can't wait to see this fight myself.
McLoskey will win this i feel.
And big ears how do you come up with all this info is beyond me.
Do you go to every fight with a pen and paper or what?

Big Ears

conceited wrote: »

Oh yes can't wait to see this fight myself.
McLoskey will win this i feel.
And big ears how do you come up with all this info is beyond me.
Do you go to every fight with a pen and paper or what?

Rankings I get from organisations websites, their constantly changing(so it's the only way to do it). Everything else is part of my unhealthy addiction that is boxing. I'm sure I could be a lot more successful in life if I applied my memory to more useful things.......but what would life be without boxing

Big Ears

The undercard for this one isn't bad(compared to recent Friday Fight Nights).

Michael Hunter makes his return against French and EU Featherweight champion Osman Atkas. Might be a tough fight considering the lay off but Hunter should come through for a points win.

Polish Light-Middleweight prospect Grzegorz Proska faces decent journeyman Taz Jones. Jones holds a win over Neil Sinclair(cuts) and has a draw with former Commonwealth title challenger Craig Dickson. Proska should win this reasonably comfortably on points but will be worked hard to do it.

English Super-Bantamweight prospect John Donnelly continues his comeback from a ko loss to Gavin Reid against Russian Andrey Kostin. Kostin has always fought at a high level throughout his career but bar a shock win over a comebacking Peter Culshaw 4 years ago he's never really gotten the upperhand over better opponents. Donnelly will probably have enough to edge this on points.

Belfast man Scott Jordan is also on the card aswell against Kevin McCauley who hasn't been in the pro ranks long and complies a 2-2 record.

Big Ears

This is starting now, if anyone's got Sky they should watch it.
Even though I fancy Lyons on points, should I be wrong it'll be a huge night for Irish boxing.

listowel1

Big Ears wrote: »

This is starting now, if anyone's got Sky they should watch it.
Even though I fancy Lyons on points, should I be wrong it'll be a huge night for Irish boxing.

Currently watching it and i dont have sky.just caught lynes with uppercut.Guessing he is ahead after 7rounds winning by at least 3/4

listowel1

listowel1 wrote: »

Currently watching it and i dont have sky.just caught lynes with uppercut.Guessing he is ahead after 7rounds winning by at least 3/4

Champion stopped at break.

Well done paul

foams

What A performance Paul, great display of his boxing talents,
what a boxing stlyist.

Big Ears

Ring magazine not too long ago called Paul McCloskey the most protected prospect in boxing. Well on 1 weeks notice this protected prospect went in against a man who should be the European champion and stopped him.
That's something even Junior Witter couldn't do.

Yes Lenny Daws stopped Lynes a few years ago, but Lynes was ill that night, tonight he looked in good shape and health, started well but was then outclassed by a marvellous McCloskey.

I don't think Paul is World level, but Lynes is as tough as you get in Europe.
I think a defence of the British title,possibly a mandatory against Barnes which would be tough, and then try and get Gianluca Branco to Ireland for a European title fight.

sligobhoy67

mas-ter-ful!!!!

I gave Lynes round 2 - thats it!!!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

unknown13

Big Ears wrote: »

Ring magazine not too long ago called Paul McCloskey the most protected prospect in boxing. Well on 1 weeks notice this protected prospect went in against a man who should be the European champion and stopped him.
That's something even Junior Witter couldn't do.

Yes Lenny Daws stopped Lynes a few years ago, but Lynes was ill that night, tonight he looked in good shape and health, started well but was then outclassed by a marvellous McCloskey.

I don't think Paul is World level, but Lynes is as tough as you get in Europe.
I think a defence of the British title,possibly a mandatory against Barnes which would be tough, and then try and get Gianluca Branco to Ireland for a European title fight.

Barnes will be soon , Branco has to face Witter in a mandatory and might avoid Mc Closkey because of his style

Otherwise very good performance against a very tough opponeny

conceited

Ah i knew he would win !!!!!!!!!! Go on paul ya beauty
Mc was always going to win this i feel . Look at the mans style he is very very hard to fight.

cowzerp

I missed it, Doh! too busy training!
well done Paul and great news for him and his career, also great for irish boxing to have a genuine prospect moving up in standard and winning well..

sligobhoy67

right, he's had 12 hours of glory - time to start being critical (we are Irish after all!)

a. chin waving in the air - a Lynes who isnt known as a puncher wobbled him in the second. Fair play to Paul he recovered well, held and then keep the head moving and finished the round well.

b. dives inta punches leaving himself exposed.

nacho libre

conceited wrote: »

Ah i knew he would win !!!!!!!!!! Go on paul ya beauty
Mc was always going to win this i feel . Look at the mans style he is very very hard to fight.

it was a fantastic achievement considering he only had a weeks notice. however, he'll have to cut out leaving his hands down and chin out at times are he could get caught in future fights once he steps up another level.

f1dan

First of all, great performance from Paul on such short notice. Some of those uppercuts were beautiful.

sligobhoy67 wrote: »

right, he's had 12 hours of glory - time to start being critical (we are Irish after all!)

a. chin waving in the air - a Lynes who isnt known as a puncher wobbled him in the second. Fair play to Paul he recovered well, held and then keep the head moving and finished the round well.

b. dives inta punches leaving himself exposed.

I thought he tended to throw some very wide right hooks when Lynes was on the ropes, possibly leaving himself open to being caught by a natural counter puncher like himself.

It appeared to me that his punches weren't very crisp in the opening 2 rounds. Maybe he'd be better off to keep his guard a little higher 'til he warms up and settles in to the fight.

How long will it be before he has to defend the belt?

steve-collins

watched the fight last night and i am delighted for paul he outclassed lyons and i honestly belive doody can go on to win a world title if he toightens his defense up and throws less of the wild hooks maybe in about 5 or 6 fights time he could challenge for a world title . i am alone in thinking this or dos anyone else belive mccloskey can go on to bigger and better things ?

Hangballlouie

steve-collins wrote: »

watched the fight last night and i am delighted for paul he outclassed lyons and i honestly belive doody can go on to win a world title if he toightens his defense up and throws less of the wild hooks maybe in about 5 or 6 fights time he could challenge for a world title . i am alone in thinking this or dos anyone else belive mccloskey can go on to bigger and better things ?

first off, I think it is fantastic that Paul won this fight, when so many said he would lose.
I don't believe he is good enough to win a world title as he gets hit too easily.
I do hope he now gets a european title shot as he is capable of winning this title, but imo nothing bigger.

megadodge

I don't believe he is good enough to win a world title as he gets hit too easily.

I'd have to disagree with you there hangball, McCloskey doesn't get hit very often at all ! He's extremely awkward and relaxed in the ring.

The problem is when he does get hit, with his high chin it could exacerbate the effects of the blow and even if he takes it well it could make it look worse than it really is.

He's the type of fighter that a lot of people will intentionally avoid as he ain't easy to look good against. He was the same in the amateurs.

Hangballlouie

megadodge wrote: »

I'd have to disagree with you there hangball, McCloskey doesn't get hit very often at all ! He's extremely awkward and relaxed in the ring.

The problem is when he does get hit, with his high chin it could exacerbate the effects of the blow and even if he takes it well it could make it look worse than it really is.

He's the type of fighter that a lot of people will intentionally avoid as he ain't easy to look good against. He was the same in the amateurs.

Your right Mega. what I should of said was that against a better class fighter, they would expose him as he leaves himself open to often.
As always, I hope I am wrong, as he is not only a good fighter, he is a sound bloke aswell.
I am the biggest fan of Irish fighters, and I want him to go all the way, I just think there is maybe three or four guys out there that would beat him. I do have no doubt that he will be euro champ next year.

sston

Surprised this one hasn't been discussed more. Best Irish performance in years for me. Beat a guy on a weeks notice in his back yard who until recently was a decent European champ (and only lost it on a split to an Italian in Italy). Lynes also gave Junior Witter plenty of problems too when they met.

I think Paul could handle Branco easily to win the European title and I don't think Tim Bradley, Kendall Holt or Kotelnik are anything special at world level although they would all start favourites against Paul it wouldn't be the greatest shock in the world if he beat any of those guys.