| Hosts: Birmingham Dates: 28 July to eight August |
| Coverage: Watch reside on BBC TV with additional streams on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport web site and BBC Sport cell app |
Plenty of Scottish boxers should endure comparisons with Josh Taylor, who is just the nation’s second ever undisputed world champion. But with Reese Lynch, there are sufficient similarities there to make it inevitable.
A southpaw and a light-weight welterweight from the east of Scotland’s central belt, the 21-year-old even has the identical softly-spoken conviction Taylor had when embarking on his novice profession.
The similarities give Lynch inspiration, although, moderately than stress. There is a protracted, arduously troublesome and relentless journey to achieve the heights Taylor has scaled, however the younger fighter from Fauldhouse is assured in his talents.
“There are some things I can be taught from him,” Lynch says of Taylor, considered one of his boxing heroes.
“I’ve by no means met him however he despatched me a tweet after my worlds [when he won a medal] and looks as if man. I’d love to fulfill him. I reckon I can get there too. Give me a couple of years and hopefully I may be up there with him.”
One of the traits which any sports activities individual must make it to the highest is resilience. Lynch has discovered that from his two older brothers. Or moderately, his brothers have helped gently encourage a preventing spirit…
“They simply bullied me,” says a laughing Lynch, who received his final 32 bout within the light-welterweight division in opposition to Timon Aaree of Kiribati on Friday.
“They used to hold me from doorways once I was a wee boy and so they’d simply depart me there dangling. Still, it made me who I’m at this time and I can positively take them now.
“They knew I had a wee little bit of wire in me. I reckon they knew I might do a bit, and from there I progressed on to successful championships and getting on GB [team] as properly.”
Lynch’s brothers, although, have carried out extra for Reese than simply the same old sibling antics. Peter, generally known as Ped, is his coach. He used to play for Chelsea as a youth participant and even roomed with John Terry, earlier than accidents killed his fledgling profession.
He gave his little brother a job alongside him becoming kitchens in addition to displaying him the ropes. Tough work that calls for resilience alongside an intense coaching schedule within the evenings.
“It was crane lifting and slinging,” Lynch explains. “So transferring large heavy issues and placing them in small locations – I loved it once I was there as properly. It was chortle, however nothing like this.
“I used to be lifting heavier issues than that [kitchen units] with my brother Ped. It was like crane lifts and 300, 400, 500 kilos pushing them up stairs. It was a bit of additional energy and conditioning.
“My brothers all the time made me stick in as a result of they knew what I used to be able to. They’ve taught me the ropes and formed me into who I’m, together with my mum and pa.”
As properly as his family pushing him on, Lynch has clearly acquired expertise. In November final yr, he turned the primary ever Scot to get a medal on the senior World Amateur Boxing Championships, when he claimed bronze.
That earned him his place on the Great Britain crew, who practice in Sheffield on a full-time foundation. Lynch says he is already feeling the advantages of the additional coaching after six months, significantly his health.
He would not shrink back from the actual fact he’s focusing on Commonwealth gold – similar to Taylor managed in 2014 – after which hopefully a podium in Paris on the 2024 Olympics.
Nor does he retreat in the case of analysing his shortcomings. “I simply must cease getting hit,” is his frank evaluation after lacking out on a medal on the current European Championships in Armenia.
Regardless of what occurs in Birmingham, it will not be the final you hear from Lynch.
“When I first began, I by no means thought I’d get this far,” he says. “Especially in schoolboys, I used to be dropping fights to some folks. But I simply caught in. I knew if I simply caught in I’d get the choices, however I by no means thought I’d ever make it right here.
“I do know I’ve acquired a little bit of expertise so sticking at it and interested by your future and the place you can be within the subsequent few years retains you grounded.”
What grounds Lynch, although, is family. The clan will likely be there in power to will him on on the Games.
“They’ll be in Birmingham. My brother Dean was saying if he cannot get a room he’ll simply take a van and sleep in that. Maybe I might sneak them into the village…”
