New world champion Lynken Dickson (holding belt) is swamped by family and friends on his return from America yesterday. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 100812GOA05
TAMWORTH’S newest world champion returned home to a hero’s welcome yesterday.
Lynken Dickson boxed his way to the 60kg lightweight title at the Ringside World Championships – the biggest amateur boxing tournament in the world.
Yesterday he arrived back from his successful US tourney to a rousing reception, with family and friends travelling out to the airport to greet him.
There were congratulations balloons and even a sign that younger sister Letitia proudly held saying “my brother is a champion”.
That he certainly is after being undefeated in his four fights, and seeing off boxers from Canada, Puerto Rico, America and Mexico.
Dickson was blown away by the reception.
He couldn’t believe it.
“I’m excited and shocked to see everybody come here,” he said.
The 15-year old Oxley High student was a little bit battle-weary after four tough fights, and had a slightly swollen thumb to show for his toils along with his world title belt.
“The second fight was very hard for me,” he said.
“That was when I dislocated my thumb.”
He said he didn’t know whether he’d be able to go on with the fight.
But he did, and was awarded the win on a points decision.
In the first fight he had knocked his Canadian opponent out in the first round.
The next two fights both went to points, putting him into the final against the Mexican, where he fought a “very smart fight”, trainer Mike Abra said.
Abra was very impressed with the way his young charge fought over the
tournament.
“He earned his belt,” Abra said.
“But there’s no doubt he fought the best.”
Dickson said the fights got harder as he went along.
He was one of two boxers from the area who went over to fight in the Kansas City tournament.
Coonabarabran’s Eddie Kuras fought in the 64kg junior welterweight division and came close to emulating Dickson.
“He had four fights through to the final and was just beaten by points in the final,” Abra said.
“But he put up a great fight.”
He said the reason for the trip was to give the boys a bit of experience fighting overseas.
“Just to get that international thing out of the way and get used to fighting on the international stage,” he said.
Dickson got that and more.
“It was the best fighting I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
There were over 1600 boxers fighting across 62 different divisions.
Not that he went over there just for the experience.
“I went over there to win,” he said.
“I trained hard for it. I expected to come home with it.”
After a few days off, which Dickson is looking forward to, he will be back in the ring and preparing for more title assaults.
The next big one is the state titles in October.