Lenny Daws: Heir Apparent

[Wellington]

Lenny Daws: Heir Apparent



Morden’s Lenny Daws has the opportunity to demonstrate that he is the next big thing in his division when he appears on the Sky Box Office Pay Per View Event on 20th January alongside two current marquee light welterweight operators from Britain.

The 28-year-old defends his 140lb British Title against mandatory contender Barry Morrison in the chief support contest of the UK leg of the broadcast, being promoted by Hennessy Sports at the Alexandra Palace.

History making Junior Witter, his Hennessy Sports team mate, tops that bill in a defence of the WBC light welterweight title he won by impressively out-pointing former world champion DeMarcus Corley at the same venue in September. No other Brit has ever held the prestigious green belt at the weight before.

Later that night, Sky will move to Vegas to show Witter’s long-term rival Ricky Hatton in a challenge for his old IBF title against Juan Urango to complete an outstanding night of genuine championship action in the division.

Daws, renowned for his amazing stamina, will be looking to use the platform to send out a signal of intent from the Ally Pally.

“It’s good to be fighting on such a massive event,” said Daws, who celebrated a birthday over the Christmas period. “It’s the next stage for me now - appearing on a show like this with a big world title fight on it.

“There will be a lot of people watching so it’s a chance for me to show what I can do. I know I am not at the level of Hatton and Witter yet, I don’t have their experience, but I am coming through behind them. I already have the British title, but I believe there is a lot more to come from me yet.”

He is already closing in on the European Championship.

The Morden Man is ranked third for the belt with only Hatton - who is eligible as he currently holds no world title - and former Witter victim Andreas Kotelnik ranked above him.

A challenge to current champion Ted Bami, from Brixton, is very much on the horizon, although Bami next defends against Italian Gianluca Branco later this month. It would be a highly charged all London derby that Daws would relish.

“After the Morrison fight I feel will be ready to make that next step up,” he added. “I would like to fight for the European Title soon, maybe sometime this year.

“I have seen Bami a few times and I rate him. It would be a good contest. He likes to fight and to throw big shots. But if he can’t bang out those big shots he’s in a bit of trouble.

“I’d be confident going into that. I’d be just as confident fighting Branco as well if he became champion. The way I’m developing I fancy my chances with anyone in Europe this year.”

Beyond lies the world scene currently occupied by his two domestic counterparts.

“Witter and Hatton are two great, genuine world-class fighters,” said Daws, a father of one. “It’s possible that they could be around for me to meet when I get to challenging for world titles, but at the moment they are looking for the massive fights. After that, who knows?

“Obviously, it would be nice to see them get it on. That’s the only way of settling all the arguments. It’s a tough one to call.

“Hatton has a very strong work rate. He punches hard and keeps going all night long. On the other hand you have Junior, who would be a nightmare to fight. He punches from every angle, always finds the openings and looks to bang the harder of the two.”

'First Defence,' promoted by Hennessy Sports, takes place at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday 20th January. For the latest bill please visit www.HennessySports.com.

Tickets priced £40, £80 and £200 on 0870 060 1795.

[harrygreb]

and he didnt mention colin lynes once - lenny knows he was lucky to win that title.

[Twinkle Toes]

He has a striking resemblence to Alex Arthur.

[THEBUTCH]

Colin Lynnes ? Why mention him, his corner had to pull him out after being drubbed for nine rounds.

[harrygreb]

you clearly know nothing of the circumstances of the fight, merely the result.
daws does not want any part of a rematch because a prepared lynes would ruin him.

[steve689]

you clearly know nothing of the circumstances of the fight, merely the result.
daws does not want any part of a rematch because a prepared lynes would ruin him.

I think Lynes had had enough in that fight, he was heaving in the corner but wasn't actually sick from what i saw. Daws fitness was just too much on the night.

[harrygreb]

he was under heavy pressure to take the fight at short notice and was suffering from a virus to boot. lynes canes daws every time in a contest where both guys are fit.

[glittermonkey]

To be fair to Daws, any problems Lynes had in the run-up to the fight have nothing to do with him. He did his job, won the fight easily, and clearly sees no need for a rematch. It's up to Lynes to put himself in a position to prove that his effort against Daws was an aberration.

As for the article; Daws isn't the next big thing. As Michael Hunter proved against Molitor, fitness, work rate and heart can only take you so far. Daws just lacks that little something extra that he'll need when stepping above domestic level.

[Autobarn]

Didn't Daws pull out of a fight with Olusegun, and then duck him again?

[harrygreb]

well, jeeeezuzz - "its up to lynes to put himself...." listen, if you had lost your title because of being unprepared for a fight at two weeks notice that you had to take or be stripped of said title then you'd surely expect the guy who beat you that night, the new titleholder, to consider you when it came to his next defence. or, run away from a rematch that he knows he will lose.
i dont blame lenny daws. if it was me i'd do the same - keep clear of anyone who would beat me for my title. but as it stands today lynes is ready and waiting for the rematch - in your language "he has put himself in line to prove..." blah blah blah. but lenny is having no part of a prepared lynes.

[glittermonkey]

well, jeeeezuzz - "its up to lynes to put himself...." listen, if you had lost your title because of being unprepared for a fight at two weeks notice that you had to take or be stripped of said title then you'd surely expect the guy who beat you that night, the new titleholder, to consider you when it came to his next defence. or, run away from a rematch that he knows he will lose.
i dont blame lenny daws. if it was me i'd do the same - keep clear of anyone who would beat me for my title. but as it stands today lynes is ready and waiting for the rematch - in your language "he has put himself in line to prove..." blah blah blah. but lenny is having no part of a prepared lynes.

I've got nothing against Lynes, but what I've said still stands.

I've mentioned before that I'd like to see Lynes get the return meeting with Daws, but he's got to do something in order to get it. You can't lose a fight by stoppage, and then say that the build-up to the fight wasn't ideal and expect an immediate rematch. Especially when the opponent has a decent defence of the British title coming up. As far as I'm aware, Daws didn't take any title from Lynes, wasn't it just an eliminator?

You need to get some objectivity, because it's obvious that you're totally one-eyed with regards to Lynes. Settle down, because your man will probably get an eliminator with one more good win, and therefore, a shot at getting back in with Daws. You just need to have a touch more patience, and stop accusing Daws of ducking Lynes. Lynes, at this stage, has nothing to offer Daws, so if he wants the rematch he has to force it.

[THEBUTCH]

I was well aware of the circumstances and I was well aware that Colin Lynes wanted the fight becuase he publicly stated on TV he was going to win before hand. He willingly took the fight, so it's down to him to perform.

Daws was a 12 fight novice who hadn't even gone past 8 rounds previosuly. Lynes knew this and obviously weighed this up when accepting and it backfired badly, getting a serious drubbing in the process to point of no return.

Daws now has a mandatory to fulfill against Morrsion, so Lynes should be pressing the BBBofC hard to be installed as mandatory so Lenny has to fight him again. There's no shortage of title contenders at Light welter so Lynes had better getting his act together if he really wants a return. 6 rounders over foreigners might not be most effective route to get something you claim he wants so badly.

Having watched Lenny prepare in the gym I seriously doubt he'll have any qualms about facing Colin again.

For the record harrygreb, you seem to lacking in knowing the circumstances too. Their fight was for the vacant Southern Area title which doubled as an eliminator.

[harrygreb]

yes guys you are both right in most of what you say. but there isnt a fighter in the world who will appear on telly and say he's going to lose. so wake up butch. secondly, to my other bright spark of a poster, let me think of a world title fight that had a rematch clause written into it...um..oh yeh just about every single one since the 1930's. whether or why the clause is taken up is up or not...who knows. rocky marciano earned less in the rematch with walcott than joe did by about half and yet he won them both!!!
so what i'm saying is that lenny, whom you both claim won the fight easily, has strangely gone hush hush on the subject of a rematch with lynes. and one last thing, making judgements after being wowed by lenny daws in the gym is the boxrec comedy moment of 2007 so far, keep it up

[THEBUTCH]

The big wow about Lenny is more to do with his short term experience in the pro ranks and how he dismantled your heart throb, and far more experienced, Lynes in a very convinving manner.

Lots of boxers go into fights less than 100% but some make a song and dance about it when they lose and some don't. Colin to his credit hasn't, you on the other hand have.

When is your hero going to give Pablo Sarmiento and Juaquin Gallardo a rematch. Can't hear much noise from your quarter there.

Maybe if you had the opportunity to see Daws prepare you might be of similar opinion, but then you haven't so your statement lacks clout.

All Colin has to do is play the BBBofC game and he'll get a crack. Lenny wants that belt for keeps and he hasn't even made a single defence yet so there's plenty of time for Colin to get stuffed a second time.

[harrygreb]

bit of a problem there me old mate, sarmiento retired immediately after colin beat him - but i reckon pablo could box lenny's ears off if he came out of retirement tomorrow.
colin is a decent lad, a better than average boxer and deserves a shot at getting back in the ring with a guy who beat him in less than equal circumstances. i like him, he's not a close friend of mine although i have met and spoken to him, his family and his boxing circle many, many times.
you'll agree with me that the brit lightwelter division has hatton, witter and then a big gap before the brit no.3 appears. this third place in my view should be filled with a better fighter than lenny. ted bami, exciting and world class puncher that he is, would be outboxed by both daws and lynes IMO - i hope you are right and the board realise that lenny v colin is one the best domestic fights out there. i'll be ringside when it happens, i hope you will too, butch.

[THEBUTCH]

I certainly hope so. Daws has to beat Morrison first, which I think he will, but it's not a foregone conclusion. As long as Colin keeps the wins coming, I'm convinced he will get another shot at the title in 2007. I've seen Colin perform for the past 12/13 years since he boxed for Hornchurch and Elm park ABC and I've always rated him as good, capable boxer. I just think Lenny's better, you think otherwise, but I'm also convinced Daws won't be shying away from a return with Lynes. His career appears to be going places so IMO he's team are entitled to call a few shots here and there.

[harrygreb]

[THEBUTCH]

Colin's been paired with David Barnes in an eliminator according to the BBBofC.

That a tough fight for both of them and whoever wins should be made mandatory IMO.

[stujones]

Sorry Harry, but no way did Lynes beat Sarmiento... Pablo won it clear.

[THEBUTCH]

Disagree SJ, looked fair to me too.

[harrygreb]

i was there, stu, i had a very good view of the action and although it was pretty close - hand on my heart - colin did enough against the excellent sarmiento. (i was also ringside when pablo absolutely ruined gary rhodes)
sarmiento had no complaints either, it was a very enjoyable fight.