Lynken Dickson catches Jesse Travers on the top of the head during last Saturday’s fight. Next week Dickson flies to the United States. Photo: Grant Robertson 140712GRD19
TAMWORTH boxing young gun Lynken Dickson will take his prodigious talents to the United States next week.
The 15-year-old Oxley High School student, who trains at the Westside Gym, is going to fight in the biggest boxing tournament in the world in Kansas City.
“I go on the 27th to America,” Dickson said.
“It’s a massive tournament.
“There’s 2000 boxers there and they have six rings going at once.
“It’s the biggest amateur boxing tournament in the world.”
Dickson warmed up for the trip with an exhibition against Kempsey’s Jesse Travers at the West Tamworth League Club on Saturday night.
Someone forgot to tell the two youngsters it was only an exhibition though because they didn’t hold anything back.
“There’s a bit of background there,” Dickson said.
“I’ve beaten him before, in a NSW title fight.
“I think he wanted to get one back on me, but he didn’t.
“There’s a rivalry there.”
Dickson was impressive.
His hand speed was the most outstanding feature, but he admits he let his discipline slip when his opponent started to push the boundaries.
It almost became an all-out brawl at the finish but the bell rang and tempers cooled a
little.
Dickson acknowledges that it’s all part of the learning process and going to America, where he may get up to five or six fights, will only help his growth as a fighter.
“It’s my first time (overseas),” he said.
“It’s the biggest thing we’ve done in a while.”
The teenager trains twice a day.
He has been with Mike Abra at Westside for a few years now but Abra has retired as a trainer after Saturday’s fight night.
“Mike will still be there in the background,” Dickson said.
“But my dad (Chris) will take over. He’ll be working with me and a lot of the other boxers around Tamworth.”