Modern-day boxing is becoming flooded with social media influencers, many of whom are raking-in millions of pounds for a single fight, but there’s little chance that Reese Lynch will be turning into an influencer, or fighting one, any time soon.
Lynch is a fighter through-and-through, and a world-class one at that, and couldn’t be more different from the influencers who play at being boxers but who have achieved varying degrees of little to nothing.
From Jake Paul to KSI, these guys and their ilk are, at best, mediocre fighters yet have accumulated ten times, or more, the wealth that Lynch has.
Most would be livid at how boxing has become something of a popularity contest rather than a test of fighting ability but Lynch remains, in the main, level-headed about the turn his sport has taken, and he’s adamant that fighting an influencer won’t be the path he’ll be taking any time soon.
“Having a following on social media is such a big thing now - so often you see boxers that are only half decent getting big fights just because they have a social media following. Boxing is a business at the end of the day and so, I guess, the more followers you have, the more tickets you can sell. So fair play to these guys, they're living the life,” says Lynch.
“I have to admit, though, sometimes it can be frustrating seeing the money they're earning. But you have to just focus on yourself.
“I'd want to achieve success in boxing first, though, before I look at fighting anyone just for the money.
“And if I started acting like an influencer, my brother would be absolutely fuming at me so I don't think that'll happen anytime soon.”
Lynch established himself as one of Scotland’s most successful-ever amateur boxers, winning Commonwealth Games gold and World bronze during a stellar amateur career. His move into the professional ranks was highly-anticipated and the 24-year-old lived up to the hype, recording a dominant, and quick, victory on his professional debut in May.
Lynch may have slotted into the pro ranks with ease but despite his maiden pro bout lasting so little time, it was still long enough to teach the Scot a valuable lesson or two about professional boxing.
“I was really happy with how my pro debut went, it worked out just as we planned. It was good to go out there and get the job done and have it confirmed that I can go out there and stop people.” The Fauldhouse light welterweight says.
“I definitely feel like I'm on the right track to be a very good pro but my brother (Ped, who also coaches Lynch) watched that first fight back and although it was a good performance, he still found loads of things that I can improve on.
“Now I'm in the pros, I need to concentrate on keeping my hands up because you really don't want to be getting hit when guys have got these small gloves on.
“In my last fight, I was caught with a body shot and I really felt the difference compared to the amateur gloves. In the amateurs, if you get caught, it's annoying more than anything else, whereas when you get hit with the pro gloves, you really feel it.
“And now I really realise why people always say you do not want to be getting hit.”
With the recent retirement of Josh Taylor, there’s a gaping hole at the top of Scottish boxing, with the sport in this country crying out for the next world title contender. Lynch is still some way from contending for world titles just yet but he admits it’s heartening to be one of the names touted to follow in Taylor’s footsteps.
“It's cool being one of the fighters that people are looking at to fill the gap left by Josh - it’s been my goal for so long to get to the top both in Scotland and the world so it's really good to see people mentioning my name,” he says.
“There's a good crop of boys coming through now who can all win titles and that will be so good for Scottish boxing rather than just having one boxer at the top carrying all the pressure. It's good to know the sport is in a good place.”
Lynch’s next opportunity to showcase his boxing pedigree will come on Saturday, on the undercard of the Nathanial Collins v Cristobal Lorente European featherweight title fight at Braehead’s Arena in what will be the Fauldhouse native’s second professional bout.
While some boxers are keen for longer, drawn-out fights in the early stages of their pro career, Lynch is hoping for nothing of the sort and he’s looking for yet another quick finish this weekend when he faces Jakub Laskowski, a Pole with a 6-37 win-loss record.
“The aim for this one is just the same as on my debut - to go in there and get the job done. I don't believe in wanting rounds,” he says.
“I want to take the other guy out and get the fight done as quick as possible.”
Also fighting on Saturday in an undercard packed with Scottish talent are Regan Glackin, Willy Hutchinson, Alex Arthur Jr, Drew Limond Aston Brown and Paul Kean.
