After compiling an unbeaten ledger of 20–0 he found himself in December 2002 competing for the IBO inter-continental light welterweight title, winning by 9th round tko against American Richard Kiley.
[1] Following the defeat Lynes regrouped by winning his next three fights setting himself up for a shot at the full IBO light welterweight champion Argentinian Daniel Sarmiento.
McCloskeys lost opportunity was Lynes gain as he was drafted in to fight for the title against Frenchman Souleymane M'baye, a former WBA world champion in Paris on 3 July 2009.
The competition included a number of successful British light welterweight boxers from recent years with Lynes winning two contests to reach the final.
The final saw Lynes compete with Newbridge's Gavin Rees, a man who had briefly held the World WBA light welterweight championship in 2007 and who was supported at ringside by former stablemate Joe Calzaghe.
[10] Lynes return to the ring following the Prizefighter tournament saw him compete on the undercard of David Hayes world heavyweight title defence against John Ruiz at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
The fight, on 3 April 2010, resulted in Olusegun retaining his title after a stomach problem caused by a series of body shots had Lynes gasping for breath and him been counted out in the 8th round.
He reached the semi-finals beating his stablemate Bobby Gladman in the quarter-finals but losing to eventual winner Yassine El Maachi with a controversial split decision in the semi's.