Paul Sykes - The Movie

[coneye]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

[Nightmare Roy]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

Most of them end up dead over here too. In the end they fcuk with the wrong people.

[samwbr]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

Ask most people in the UK who Sykes is they wouldn't have a clue.

[banjo]

Was he harder than Lee Duffy?

[Noxy]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

I don't think "idolize" is the right word. There is a sort of fascination with them though for whatever reason.

[banjo]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

I don't think "idolize" is the right word. There is a sort of fascination with them though for whatever reason.

Think it's a fantasy thing, SAS books have a similar cult around them.

[bennie]

Sykes was a talented domestic heavyweight with a beautiful physique but he couldn't handle the pressure of John L. Gardner in a crack at the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles at Wembley in 1979, turning and quitting in the sixth round (although the superfit Gardner made a host of opponents quit). More revealingly, he also bailed out in a 10-rounder with Neil Malpass when he deliberately butted Malpass after the latter had soaked up his early pressure. He actually floored Malpass with the butt.

[Controversial]

I wonder how many of these hard men bully types were raised in abusive homes, either physically, mentally or sexually abused?


.

[JimStone]

I don't think "idolize" is the right word. There is a sort of fascination with them though for whatever reason.

Think it's a fantasy thing, SAS books have a similar cult around them.

Exactly that. They attract dreamers. No different than romantic fiction attracting middle aged spinsters though, I suppose. It's escapism.

[MasterG]

Got me stuffed why the British , seem to idolize , , put up with ,, and hero worship these sort of idiots all the time , in other parts of the world its simple , someone would of shot him . . It really is a british thing , to idolize these thugs , bullys and cowards .

Ask most people in the UK who Sykes is they wouldn't have a clue.

Indeed, only West Yorkshire folk and old school crims and boxing folk.

[MasterG]

Was he harder than Lee Duffy?

They never had a fight as far as I know Sykes only visited Middlesbrough on 2 or 3 times I think.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I don't think "idolize" is the right word. There is a sort of fascination with them though for whatever reason.

Think it's a fantasy thing, SAS books have a similar cult around them.

Theres reality tv shows now thanks to those SAS books. Andy Mcnab can take the blame for that.

[banjo]

Think it's a fantasy thing, SAS books have a similar cult around them.

Theres reality tv shows now thanks to those SAS books. Andy Mcnab can take the blame for that.

Yep, even though McNab, Ryan, Spence, Crossland etc. have been labelled by their own as bullshitters.

[Wee Tommy]

Was he harder than Lee Duffy?

If underage boys n girls were around, yes. Much harder.

[THEBUTCH]

Zero interest in his non-boxing goings-on, but for the pro boxing experience he had acquired by the time he challenged for the British title, Sykes put in a reasonable challenge to the vastly more experienced Gardner. He showed good skills, workrate and durability. Of course, by the end of the fight he had taken a real hiding from Gardner.

[Controversial]

Out of interest how did Sykes manage to challenge for the BBBoC Central Area title in only his 2nd pro fight?

[gb]

I grew up in Wakefield and Paul Sykes was pretty much the same age as my dad. He was a regular in 'reports from the courts' in the 90s (Sykes, not my old man) for alcohol related violence, but he came across more as a pathetic alkie who liked to throw his weight around than a serious hard case. He seemed to spend quite a few afternoons in the Wakefield Council office demanding a council house, which wasn't a pleasant experience for the (mostly) women who worked there!
I understand that there's a certain fascination with the Curtis Warrens and Dave Courtneys of this world, but Sykes really was just a provincial small time loser with not much of a story to tell.

[Controversial]

Out of interest how did Sykes manage to challenge for the BBBoC Central Area title in only his 2nd pro fight?

Sykes was an experienced amateur and had fought for England at every level from schoolboy upwards.

He'd also been used as a sparring partner for experienced pros and various managers had tried to sign him before he turned professional. So he already had a reputation, Sykes wasn't like most newbies.

His manager was also 'connected' with the regional board and the title holder Neil Malpass was from the next town so the fight would be a ticket seller. Plus, Sykes was already in his thirties so they needed to get on with it.

Cheers for that

[chiggsy]

There's footage of sykes on youtube sparring with joe frazier long before he turned pro so was obviously highly thought of as an amateur.

[Controversial]

There's footage of sykes on youtube sparring with joe frazier long before he turned pro so was obviously highly thought of as an amateur.

Can you post a link please, can't find it

EDIT. Its ok found it, that was in 1973 too, five years before he turned pro

[Coco]

It's widely thought that Sykes was a nonce, which was one of the reason the local kids used to piss on him when he was passed out.
Was he def a nonce or could it just be a rumour?

[Dixonian]

Sykes was a sadistic piece of sh!t who deserves no glorification. He wouldve raped all your sons.

Completely agree. I'd have zero interest in watching a film about that nonce.

[Controversial]

Sykes was a sadistic piece of sh!t who deserves no glorification. He wouldve raped all your sons.

Completely agree. I'd have zero interest in watching a film about that nonce.

Where is all the nonce stuff coming from?

[MasterG]

Completely agree. I'd have zero interest in watching a film about that nonce.

Where is all the nonce stuff coming from?

No evidence only rumour from within the prison walls.

[bripez]

Completely agree. I'd have zero interest in watching a film about that nonce.

Where is all the nonce stuff coming from?

There’s quite a few previous threads here about “bang ‘em out Sykes” - have a read

Proper despicable person - he ended up a tramp sleeping on a park bench and the local lads would taunt him and even piss on him whilst he was asleep, and not one person (quite rightly) had any sympathy for him