Lynes improved his record to 29 wins (11 by KO) and three losses

The 29-year-old Londoner, the former IBO world champion, won on all three judges' cards - 116-113, 117-111 and 116-112 - at Motherwell's Civic Centre.

Morrison was making his first defence since taking the title from Lenny Daws on a split decision in January.

But over 12 enthralling rounds, Lynes was superior in technique and guile.

Morrison took a series of left jabs from the challenger in the first couple of rounds and it was evident that a tough fight lay ahead.

Lynes, sharp and incisive, was marking Morrison's face early in the encounter as he accumulated the points.

The Scotsman stepped up the pace in the third round but the Hornchurch fighter was proving elusive while continuing to trouble with his lightening left hand.

Morrison tried hard to channel his obvious frustration in a positive way but Lynes looked classier, his movement sharper and defence stronger.

By round five the champion was trying to fluster the Englishman with sheer aggression and for the first time in the fight he began to find a way through.

Morrison, with a tighter defence and unleashing some powerful left hands, was looking less vulnerable by the halfway point.

Both fighters took something of a breather in round seven but while Lynes' left jab had clearly lost some of its earlier potence, his slickness remained.

Try as he might, Morrison could not pin Lynes against the ropes long enough to unload and the frustration returned to the Motherwell boxer, his fans' defiance indicating their fears more than their excitement.

The Englishman looked calm and composed as the bell rang for round nine and he proceeded to dance around the ring finding the target and further enraging the brave but faltering Morrison.

Lynes had put himself into an almost unbeatable situation, leaving the Scotsman looking for a knock-out to keep his belt.

Morrison had resorted to throwing bombs by the 10th round but the Londoner's movement ensured he was never going to be caught flush and the hope seemed to slowly drain from the Scot.

He entered the last round knowing he had to stop his opponent to win but although encouraged by his fans for one last effort, the tiring Lynes still had enough to hang on and claim the title.

However, in a bloody encounter, the 24-year-old British Masters champion sustained a cut eye in the third round after taking a head-butt from the Hungarian before a punch opened up his left eye in the next round.