Reese Lynch will be looking to add to his historic World Championship medal from last year with another medal at a major tournament, as he travels to Armenia as part of a 14 man squad for the upcoming European Championships.
Lynch’s bronze medal in Serbia was the first ever for a Scottish fighter and he has stated it has given him plenty of confidence going into what will be a difficult week in Armenia in the 63kg division. Lynch will get his tournament underway on Thursday and is joined in the light-welterweight division by England’s Joe Tyers.
“I’m confident going out there. Getting a bronze medal at the World Championships has set me in really good stead for this tournament and I’m ready to pick up another medal. I know I can do it, as I’ve already done it and proven I belong with the top boys in the world.
“To be the first Scottish fighter to medal at the Worlds is something I won’t forget and to have all the other Scottish lads there, shouting me on was amazing. They made a lot of noise for only 6 of them. When I got home, there was such a buzz and it was great to receive all that praise.”
The medal at the World Championships was just another milestone in an excellent 2021 for the Falkirk star, who was promoted to the GB Podium squad following his heroics in Serbia. Lynch is well aware he will be a target and is looking forward to the challenge.
He has already achieved major success at a young age and is enjoying what has been a meteoric rise into the attention of the GB setup in Sheffield. Lynch is hoping the momentum he has built won’t stop anytime soon.
“All the nations send their top guys and there will be a few familiar faces. The Turk, Kerem Ozmen, who beat me in the semi-finals in Serbia will likely be there so I’m very much up for the rematch and get my revenge. I feel it was a close fight when we fought, but he did enough in the third round to seal the win, which he deserved. But, I wouldn’t mind going in with him again.
“I’m only 20, I’m still learning. I’m a baby on this stage to be honest compared to a lot of the other fighters. But, I do feel like I belong already. I’ve had an amazing few months, with the Worlds and then getting on to GB squad full time so I’m just going to carry on riding that wave of momentum.”
Boxing in Scotland has always been strong, but it seems to have been given a real jolt in the arm in recent years, led by former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor, who was a long time GB fighter and the last Scot to represent GB in the Olympic Games when he competed at London 2012.
Lynch wasn’t the only Scot to be signed to the Podium squad and says he is hoping to add his name to the list and create some more Scottish boxing history. With the Commonwealth Games also taking place in 2022, Lynch is ready to really prove his credentials at the top level.
“Scottish boxing is in a good place and now with me there is also Sam Hickey and Aqeel Ahmed down here, looking to get those places in 2024. There hasn’t been a Scottish fighter in the Olympics since Josh Taylor, so it will be great timing for us to get a couple more and make a bit more history.
“It’s a huge year for us all, with this tournament and then the Commonwealth Games. It’s a chance to rack up some medals and with the points system coming back in to replace what we have at the moment next year, I think I’m set up to make a real run at this and show what I can do once again on the biggest stage.”