BoxRec

thats the latest on this one.

lynes training going well.

who gives him a chance against the old fella?

is it on setanta?

A lot less in Turin, bound to be "shrouded" in controversy.

no doubt

Dagenham stylist Colin Lynes ventures to the lion's den of Turin in Italy to defend his European light-welterweight title against local veteran Gianluca Branco next month.
Branco is 37 but has lost only to Miguel Cotto and Arturo Gatt in 43 outings and, in Italy, represents a big obstacle even to a peak Lynes. Team Branco have been messing the Londoner around with dates in the usual Italian way but come fight night, Branco will be ready to go on home soil and Lynes must be ready himself. He's never fought outside Britain; he's probably pig sick of the politics. This is exactly where the Italians want him.
Colin won the title with a dazzling eight-round stoppage of Midlander Young Muttley last July and retained with a one-sided decision over durable Finn Juho Tolppola in January. His jab proved the dominant factor both nights, yet Branco was once hailed "the best Italian boxer since Nino Benvenuti" and if he takes away that jab, you wonder if Colin has the power to take out Branco in the way Pat Barrett took out Efren Calamati in Italy for the same title back in 1990. A 'still got it' Gatti failed to budge Branco in Atlantic City in 2004 for the WBC light-welterweight title while Cotto seriously worked Branco over in Puerto Rico in 2006 for the WBO title and stopped him in eight - but never floored him.
Clearly, Branco's slippery, gritty, bad-tempered approach is effective. He's won his last four since Cotto, although you wonder how much he has left. This is in stark contrast to Lynes, who nearly beat Junior Witter at York Hall back in 2005 (How bad did he make Witter look!) and is boxing better than ever at 30. He went to an Italy of sorts when he outboxed Motherwell's strong Barry Morrison in Motherwell last year for the British title and picked Muttley apart in his own Midlands backyard a fight later.
They say class always tells. If so, one has to side with the champion.

Lynes win by late stoppage even it being in turin. Deserved world title shot next.

Didn't Billy Schwer go to Italy while WBC #1 and spark out Casamonica too?

The thing with colin is he will not be phased with fighting in italy. He has been to belfast as well as motherwell and wolverhampton where he was the away. The last 2 away fights showing his class. The only fear will be if its close and the judges are swayed by the home support. I know that colin is aware of this and plans to make it a convincing win. Branco and his team fear colins qualities hence their messing about. They got their way with the venue but it will not affect the result imo.

love your confidence TJ and i share it to some extent. colin seems to travel well and his own confidence in the form he has shown lately will stand him in good stead in turin. my only downer is branco is durable and i dont fancy a close-ish decision.

DavidPayne wrote:Didn't Billy Schwer go to Italy while WBC #1 and spark out Casamonica too?

Casamonica was at York Hall David I think, remember Bill beat a Spaniard for a Euro belt at some stage in Spain.

I really hope Lynes stops him or at least dominates him so thoroughly the decision can't be disputed because I've seen some shocking officiating in Italy.