Paul Dyer
Paul Dalrymple
The Portsmouth News
October 19,1999
Paul Dyer is back on the boxing map and eyeing a millennium shot at a
welterweight title.
The Portsmouth boxer made a losing return to the ring on Saturday when he
was outpointed by highly-rated Neil Sinclair in Belfast.
But trainer Gwyn Evans is expecting the offers to flood in after Dyer's
battling effort won fans and impressed the watching promoters.
He has already pencilled in a 12-round British masters fight before
Christmas and a couple of other smaller bouts with a view to a crack at the
British or inter-continental belts next year.
Evans said: 'The fact he lost on Saturday was disappointing but the
performance was much more important than the result.
'Sinclair is the number one challenger for the British title and he knew
he'd been in a fight. Paul's had only two fights in the last three years and
to go in with a class opponent was a big step-up.
'But he had to re-establish himself and he has done that. He has come away
with a great reputation and the Irish people loved him.
'Barney Eastwood was in Sinclair's corner and he came over afterwards to say
how well Paul had boxed. He said the boy's got the heart of a lion and a
chin made of stone.'
Dyer's jab dominated for long periods but he was unable to put Sinclair
away, a weak point that has held back Dyer, 29, throughout his career.
Evans believes the killer instinct is coming and said: 'He didn't capitalise
on Saturday but that was down to ring-rust rather than anything else. Paul
was the most telling puncher.
'We've been working together since December and when he first came to me I
admit I thought he was a flashy counter-punch boxer. But he is so strong and
determined and you could see straight away his ability.
'I need to see my boys showing that fighter instinct and Paul's definitely
got that. He got through more than 80 rounds sparring before the Sinclair
fight and it was simply ring-rust that stopped him.
'Otherwise he'd have won the fight by far. But that's just made Paul more
determined. He was on the phone to me straight away wanting to go back in
the ring today because he's so keen.
'I managed to put him back until Thursday but you can see how desperate he
is to make up for lost time.
'We've got big plans for Paul and he's really hungry. There's plenty more to
come from him.'
Meanwhile coach George Mackenzie was in buoyant mood after seeing two of his
boxers win at the weekend.
Bradley Barney, cousin of the highly-rated Matt Barney, secured his fifth
win on the trot for the Waterlooville Mackenzie Boxing Club by defeating his
Cheshunt opponent on points in a bout in London.
The 17-year-old southpaw is now well set for the NABC Championships in
Bristol next month.
'To go to London and win Bradley boxed very well,' said Mackenzie. 'He took
the fight to the boy, and it was a good win, since his opponent was very
strong. But Bradley put in some lovely left crosses to win well.'
Mackenzie also has high hopes for 11-year-old Emsworth youngster Carl
Finnegan who won his under-39 kilos bout against C Mattingly at the Docker's
Club in Southampton on a Golden Ring BC show.
The youngster was only 50-50 to fight, and Mackenzie gave Finnegan the green
line only on the morning of the bout after some sparring.
'I was very pleased with Carl,' he said. 'It was only his second fight, and
I feel he is going to be a good boy.'