Lights, cameras and action in Motherwell by Tom Walker Jun 9th 2007

The standard call of the film director to commence the action wasn't needed last night, as the former steel town of Motherwell welcomed the Sky television circus to the compact arena that is the town's civic centre. Topping the bill was the British Light-welterweight title championship with Barry Morrison defending the Lonsdale belt against Colin Lynes of Hornchurch in Essex, and we had plenty of lights, cameras and action throughout the card organised by both Tommy Gilmour and Barry Hearn. The venue was packed to capacity and this combined with a red hot atmosphere had the temperature inside the hall unseasonably warm for those of us who hadn't cooled down with lager. Barry Morrison 10st defending his title against Colin Lynes 9st 13 3/4lbs of Hornchurch was always going to be a clash of styles, and so it proved to be on the night, with the elegant and stylish Essex man moving and jabbing with a fluidity that comes naturally to him, whereas the local man Morrison, has a heart that mere mortals can only long for! The opening had caution thrown to the wind as they dispensed with any tentative preliminaries and set about the task with gusto. Lynes' jab is accurate and fast and he takes the first two rounds with his use of it. Morrison does retaliate in the opening period of the 3rd, but he is leaving himself open to counters from the slick moving Lynes. Morrison's heavier handed shots to Lynes' body in the 5th demonstrate his new found belief in himself, and he seems to realise that he's not going to be hurt by the Hornchurch boxer as he moves forward relentlessly in search of the great equaliser, the knock-out blow. Morrison does disconcertingly over-reach himself on quite a few occasions which can leave him perilously off balance, but Lynes doesn't seem able to capitalise on this in a fairly even 6th. The Essex man began to dominate proceedings as the fight progressed, and Morrison tired, having expended an awful lot of energy trying vainly, to knock Lynes out with every shot. As the champion tired, so then the challenger seemed to gain in confidence and looked remarkably fresh after eight gruelling rounds and responded to his corner man's pleas to keep it long! Morrison went all out in the last rounds, drawing deep from his well of courage and heart to claw back the undoubted advantage that Lynes had but to no avail! In the end the unanimous decision was the right one and the partisan crowd accepted it with good grace. The small but vocal band of support which had journeyed north from Essex were in raptures, including Mrs Lynes who had been sat ringside with me during the bout. The score from one judge was mean spirited, suggesting only three rounds to the champion, but then again the result wouldn't have changed, merely the amount of gloss which he portrayed on the rightful winner. Lynes was quick to acknowledge Morrison's contribution and that of his (Morrison's) supporters to what had been an absorbing contest between two contrasting styles of boxers. As Barry Morrison ponders his future in the coming days or weeks, he should remember that he was beaten by a very stylish boxer but not hurt at any stage, and he has courage and strength in copious quantities. Attributes that were amply demonstrated in the white hot atmosphere of the Motherwell civic centre under the glare of Sky television. I make no mention of Phil Edwards, as he was almost unnoticed, the mark of a good referee!

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