McCloskey bags British belt

Lynes: Blown away

He's a former champion, a European champion and I've a lot of respect for him

McCloskey on Lynes
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Londonderry's Paul McCloskey caused an upset when he picked up the British light-welterweight title with a ninth-round retirement of former champion Colin Lynes.

McCloskey, who took his unbeaten record to 18 straight wins, never allowed his opponent to settle as Lynes struggled with the 29-year-old's awkward southpaw style.

Lynes, a quality boxer at this level with Commonwealth and European title victories behind him, began brightly and had McCloskey in trouble with a sweet left hand in the second round.

But the more inexperienced fighter grew in confidence as the night drew on, with Lynes increasingly missing the target as his opponent landed on the counter.

Frustration

It was clear by the seventh round that it wasn't to be Lynes' night as his frustration became evident, a particularly sweet uppercut stopping him in his tracks.

But although McCloskey, who only took the fight at a week's notice following the withdrawal of David Barnes, was well on top it came as something of a surprise when Lynes' corner pulled their man out after the ninth.

"I've been training for 10 weeks so I was ready and it was an honour to meet a boxer like Colin," McCloskey told Sky Sports.

"He's a former champion, a European champion and I've a lot of respect for him.

"To be fair he probably edged the first two rounds but once I started boxing my fight, the way I fight I'm very hard to fight.

"Those upper cuts and body punches were hurting him, they were landing perfectly and my timing was great tonight."