Prospect Watch: Gary Sykes
Tucked away on Friday’s undercard in Sunderland, super featherweight prospect Gary Sykes extended his unbeaten record to 13-0 (4) after a hard fought battle over 8×3′s with Reading’s rough and ready Ibrar Riyaz. Sykes picked away at Riyaz expertly I thought, showing an excellent repertoir of punches on his way to a 79-74 decision win.
Sykes, rated at number six in Boxing Monthly’s 130 lb rankings, came to the attention of many in May with a win over fellow prospect Anthony Crolla in a fight that Sky Sports’ Adam Smith has labelled as 2009′s undercard fight of the year.
A graduate of Cleckheaton’s Boxing Academy, Sykes now trains in Huddersfield and last year, was selected to spar with Amir Khan, sessions he impressed in. An unassuming young fella, his game is based on workrate, something his co-trainer Julian McGowan cites as his greatest asset.
Sykes, from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, a former ABA featherweight champ from 2005, has his eye on a Lonsdale belt with an opportunity mooted for next year. Frank Maloney could have a young star in the making here, certainly one to look out for.
3 comments on “Prospect Watch: Gary Sykes”
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Can’t say I remember watching him fight Haz, but I’ll be sure to look out for him in the future.
Good technique, good engine. Wouldn’t fancy him against Mitchell, but I’d give him a shout against Burns, well what’s left of him when Mitchell’s done with him…….
LOL. Yeah I don’t fancy Burns’ chances against Mitchell either. Think he can make Mitchell look bad though. It’s hard to look good against a spoiler like Burns.