Cheeky chappie Reese Lynch says the 'boo boys' can stay as they’ll spur him on to the Paris Olympics.

The 21-year-old light welterweight from Fauldhouse was left confused after a chorus of boos greeted his Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham last summer.

But rather than seeing red, Lynch embraced the hostility and believes it can help to bring out the best in him.

“I’ve never had anything like that before, but I enjoyed it,” he said.

“It’s all a bit of me. I don’t know why they were booing; I’ve watched the fight back and I definitely won it.

“I enjoy it though; I can go back at the crowd. I got to showcase my character and it’s just a bit of fun.

“I like a bit of showboating here and there while not being too disrespectful.

“It’s about going in there, showcasing what you can do and having fun while you do it, it’s not just all trying to batter someone else.

“I’ve always been one of those cheeky chaps. I grew up watching the likes of Floyd Mayweather and you see him doing a bit of showboating here and there.”

Lynch is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing him to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – this is vital for his pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

A photo of Lynch cupping his ears to the naysayers inside the NEC proved a hit on Instagram and he says he would have no qualms replicating the celebration again in future.

It is perhaps no surprise that one of his boxing idol’s is another controversial character – fellow Scotsman Josh Taylor.

“I watch bits of him, and try and add stuff it into my game,” said Lynch.

“I like his style. I wouldn’t say I box too much like him, I’m more of a counterpuncher whereas he uses his grit more.

“I can do that too but that’s his style and he lets his hands go fast. It’s good to have him to look up to.

“Before the semi-finals of the Games he came and visited us and said hello, so I got to speak to him a little bit.

“He likes and retweets stuff on Twitter, but he does that with all the boys. He’s supportive of the Scotland boxing team which is cool.”

With the Paris 2024 Olympics only one year away, the Games are set to inspire people and communities all across the country. Lynch hopes that by sharing his story it will give others motivation to get involved into sport.

Lynch has already made history in his short time in the amateur game.

In 2021, he became the first Scottish boxer to win a medal at the World Championships with bronze in Belgrade.

Lynch is keen to let his boxing do the talking and looking further ahead, wants to match Taylor by unifying all four titles in the light welterweight division.

“Firstly, I want to win Olympic gold and then become world champion,” he said.

“I then want to focus on what Josh Taylor’s done, he’s undisputed and the only British athlete to do that in the four-belt era.

“If you do that, then you’ve completed boxing – that is the pinnacle.”

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