Truscott: role model

What I like about Paul is that he is a fighter. He has boxed since he was seven, he has seen all sorts in his 22 years, and he wants to bring something good to the area. His message is to stop the young taking drugs, and he would like to give give them a role model to look up to.

Adam Smith
Quotes of the week

COLIN LYNES v GIANLUCA BRANCO
European light-welterweight title
Live on Sky Sports
9.30pm, Friday, Sky Sports 1

Boxing so often dishes up wonderfully human and personal stories.

Ricky Hatton took time out from his hectic build-up to his vital clash with Juan Lazcano last week to talk about young Middlesbrough fighter Paul Truscott. He wanted me to wish Paul well for his unlikely Commonwealth Featherweight title tilt. Ricky comes from the Hattersley estate and knows what Paul has gone through.

I spent some time with Paul on the tough South Bank estate in Eston, on the edges of Middlesbrough. Boarded-up houses, kids on the streets, it was a real eye-opener and IT is a difficult part of Britain to come from. His own house is among a group waiting to be bulldozed.

What I like about Paul is that he is a fighter. He has boxed since he was seven, he has seen all sorts in his 22 years, and he wants to bring something good to the area. His message is to stop the young taking drugs, and he would like to give give them a role model to look up to.

With his limited experience of just 10 fights in less than two years as a professional, most felt it was too soon for Truscott to be taking a big leap up in levels to tackle the hardened Ghanaian, Osumanu Akaba.

Astonishingly really, Truscott did just that. Akaba attacked well from his southpaw stance early and it looked like a very hard night might be on the cards for the Middlesbrough man. With his friends and family all around, the danger was that Truscott would get drawn into a toe-to-toe battle.

Composure

In fact he kept a remarkably cool head and showed a maturity well beyond his years, to stick to his boxing and keep it very close round after round. Truscott had never even been beyond eight rounds, but he showed superb fitness and excellent composure to stick to his tactics. He simply came of age.

Most of us at ringside had the fight dead level at the final bell. But the overriding feeling was that Truscott had just about done enough. It was certainly an exceptional performance and when he got the nod, the Eston Sports Academy erupted, with Truscott sinking to his knees.

Tears of emotion followed; it was a tremendous night for Truscott and the whole area. He texted me on Monday to say that loads of the South Bank folk had been round to try the Commonwealth belt on. I like Truscott - level-headed and so friendly; I love the feel-good story. Its a shot in the arm for North East boxing too.

Another amiable fighter who has not had things easy through his tough 10-year career is Hornchurch's Colin Lynes. But the stylish light-welterweight is enjoying the boxing time of his life. After a long and hard journey, it's finally all come good for the popular European Champion.

Lynes faces an intriguing Italian job this week on Friday Fight Night. Jim Watt and I are off to Turin for the most crucial test yet for Lynes as he defends his crown against the world class Gianluca Branco.

Hostile territory

Fighting in hostile territory's becoming familiar for Lynes. He resurrected his career in Motherwell, when he clinically outboxed home town favourite Barry Morrison for the British title. The Hornchurch box fighter followed that stunning victory with another, when Lynes defused decent puncher Young Mutley in front of his Midlands following to capture the European crown.

This year has seen Lynes make a sweet defence of his European belt against Finland's tough Juho Tolppola and toppling Branco would continue a remarkable resurgence for Lynes. But Branco's the toughest away date so far - he's a quality, experienced operator, and has only lost to the elite like Miguel Cotto.

Lynes believes a big win away in Italy could pave the way for a world title crack. He's come a long way since Ricky Hatton walked through him in less than a minute in the amateurs.

When I spoke to Ricky, he was delighted about Paul Truscott, and would love to see a British double with Colin Lynes succeeding where few of our past champions have - away in Italy.

It will be tough out there - but we've learned never to write Lynes off. No-one will deserve it more.