END OF THE LYNES

Veteran stopped in six rounds by Mckinson, writes Andrew Fairley and Seb Emery

PORTSMOUTH NOVEMBER 25 ★★★★ WHOLE SHOW ★★★★ ATMOSPHERE

SIESTA BOXING served up a competitive card at the Mountbatten Centre. Michael Mckinson snared the WBC International Silver welterweight bauble with a cagey but impressive performance against veteran Colin Lynes, until a pair of body shots sent the former British and European champ to the canvas, prompting referee Jeff Hinds to signal the finish at 2-51 of the sixth.

Awkward Congolese Paul Kamanga used plenty of sideto-side movement and took a 98-93 decision over Frenchman Christopher Sebire to win the WBC International superlightweight trinket with Sebire unable to solve Kamanga’s tricky style. Ian John Lewis officiated and alternated with colleague Hinds for the remaining contests.

Fareham’s Floyd Moore took a hard-fought six-threes decision over Slovakian Ivan Godor in a crowd-pleasing scrap, while Portsmouth’s Lucas Ballingall

overcame a significant weight disadvantage to give a dazzling display and halt Frenchman

Michael Dehamnia early in the second.

In a fast-paced eight-rounder, Southampton’s Luther Clay and

Gallas Coulon of France went toe to toe, with neither taking a backwards step. It was Clay’s greater punch variety and success inside that brought him a 78-75 win over a gallant opponent.

Sweden’s Lucy Wildheart

showed some lovely boxing skills to shut out Spain’s Vanesa Caballero

40-36 over four, while former pro footballer Dave Birmingham

bounced back from a loss to Jumanne Camero to halt Croatian

Antonio Horvatic at 1-04 of the fifth, when an accidental head clash opened a bad cut on Horvatic’s brow. The plucky visitor hadn’t stopped trying, but a win for Birmingham never looked in doubt.

In the show’s opening contest, Bournemouth’s Sam Jones took a 39-38 win over Portsmouth’s

Anthony Ponsford.

THE VERDICT Lynes’ comeback surely comes to an end, as he turns 40 the day after his defeat.