Paul Sykes... where is he now?...

[mickey1975]

I wouldnt fight him...in the streets at least

He would go straight to bite your nose off. Or ears. They all do.

I don't doubt it. tho some of the fighters, (regular sized albeit athletic men) i've trained with, i'd pick over him any day of the week (all things being equal). He doesn't even look very explosive, you'd think he'd at least be quick to steal the march with his reputation.

It’s nothing to do with athleticism. The guys that are just nasty will have your eyes out as you’re walking outside for a fair fight. Nearly all will hit you on the sly. The likes of Cockerill are stupidly strong so if they even get near you, you’re f ucked. He would bite your head and stick his fingers in your eyes. Not saying he’s as strong nowadays.

[Steveh583]

He would go straight to bite your nose off. Or ears. They all do.

I don't doubt it. tho some of the fighters, (regular sized albeit athletic men) i've trained with, i'd pick over him any day of the week (all things being equal). He doesn't even look very explosive, you'd think he'd at least be quick to steal the march with his reputation.

It’s nothing to do with athleticism. The guys that are just nasty will have your eyes out as you’re walking outside for a fair fight. Nearly all will hit you on the sly. The likes of Cockerill are stupidly strong so if they even get near you, you’re f ucked. He would bite your head and stick his fingers in your eyes. Not saying he’s as strong nowadays.

i get that but some of the people i have trained with, guys with real world experience, just wouldn't have it and would be happy to up the ante. although obv anyone can get caught if it's their time. in my defence i did say all things being equal.

I'd fancy paul vunak. tony cecchine, mick coup or lee morrison to go thru him like a hot knife through butter before he's even aware what's going on. Men who have made a career teaching how to bite, poke eyes and much much more.

[coneye]

Got a mate , who had a physice similar to this Cockeral fella , This guy played rugby all his life , has a head like a besser block and has ben fit and tough his whole life , he also worked as a bouncer and had a rep don't piss about with him for years , I may add i know he's not the strongest around , but he's the strongest fella i ever met in my life , you could'nt hurt him with an iron bar , and he was known to bite an ear of in the scrum , also bite someones nose off outside a pub .... Anyway bully is'nt the right word , lets say loud and intimidating ,, because except for the rugby field and when working has a bouncer in 30 years i've never known him to hurt anyone ,but seen and heard of him threatening people daily years ago . ,, sort of fella you would probably think would be an even matchup for a bloke like B .C ,,,, Anyway point is i believe a few weeks ago now he's nearly 60 , and ballooned out to an enormous 180 kilo ,,, yep 180 kilo , apparantly in his local , he waddled out of his chair to sort out some young buck , what for i don't know , but apparantly , threw a punch missed , could'nt contain himself and fell over ... They tell me he was on his back like a turtle , could'nt get off his back or off the floor just to big and fat ,, so story goes this young fella procceeded to kick the shit out of him , and it was some little skinny dude who jumped in and saved his bacon .

But like my missis said , what goes round comes round

[Fray Bentos]

He’s in deep with Cockerill, big Bri thinks he ripped him off.

It's one thing to write a book about Paul Sykes but I don't see how making books about the headbangers in your hometown, on your patch where you live, will bring you anything other than complete grief. He even said in his own book about Duffy that he had to be careful how he wrote it because he would be in danger from some very dangerous people. It is going to be sooner or later Brian Cockerill gets it into his head (rightly or wrongly...) 'it's my story and Boyle is making money out of it, I want more money' and that is where the bedlam starts.

I liked the Sykes book - the first one, I have yet to read the second book - his book about Duffy wasn't very good, not down to Boyle but the fact that his subject was a thick bully who went around pasting people for no reason and actually achieved nothing with his life. Apparently, he could have been a boxing prospect at cruiserweight but he ended up losing his life on some dingy street and no-one there helped the police on who killed him because he was hated so much - at least Paul Sykes fought for professional titles and twatted a shark off the Straits of Johor

Boyle was told directly by Duffy’s family not to write the book. They pleaded with him. Duff’s brother Lawrie (who I knew and has since died) was devastated as it was just raking up a painful and traumatic past for a few quid. Boyle end up writing a couple of Duffy books so you know what he’s all about morally when the family of a dead man were reaching out asking him not to do the book. And he ends up doing a few plus a DVD.

Boyle claiming to be the Teesside authority figure on Duffy is beyond parody. He will have been about eight when he was murdered.

He’s upset Cockerill they reckon and a few others up here. Funny thing Karma.

Thanks for the background info I don't see how this long-term plan of Boyle's is going to work out without him getting a thick ear at the very least. Writing about hometown 'legends' as it were whilst family and friends are around and can and will take offence at what's written isn't something I think is very sensible - writing about Sykes is different because he doesn't live in Wakefield - but I think he will get a comeuppance sooner or later because there isn't any way of not upsetting people with what he writes whilst living amongst them. I strongly suggest to him that he finds another career path (or move house to somewhere quite far away).

[high tower 1]

Imagine Dubois and him on them cobbles. Forget nose bites, Dubois would decapitate him.

[high tower 1]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

[MasterG]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

My mrs loves going to Boro shopping but I wont take her. Never liked the place. We had friends in Brambles Farm and used to take the kids to their house, I always made a quick exit. I wrote a car off getting out of Whinney Banks many years ago after an under 13s Teeside League football match. My son briefly lived in Eston while in the army. I always keep my doors locked when i go to James Cook hospital. Always amazes me that there are 2 or 3 police vans outside A&E most days. Southbank has always been a rough place and i believe it has a lot of the travelling community there. I wouldnt go there on a night for love nor money.

[bennie]

The real hard men are the quiet, modest ones. Johnny Waldron is a fighter who rarely gets a mention in these threads but he boxed for England in the unpaid ranks and then turned pro with Terry Lawless and won the Southern Area light-heavyweight title with a five-round knockout of London rival Bob Pollard at York Hall. Johnny could box and also have a row but he was susceptible to cuts and lost his title to Hackney rock Dennis Andries in 10 bloody rounds in 1979. He held his own with Andries for much of the fight but the greater strength of the challenger told in the end. It was Johnny's first defeat and also his last. He called it a day afterwards but later switched to the unlicensed circuit and starched Lenny McLean in two encounters.

[TheGoods]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

It’s as bad as anywhere in the country. Younger lads now carrying knives a lot more than used to be the case and there have been some senseless killings. Cocaine sending people, especially the younger generation, stone divvy.

[MasterG]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

It’s as bad as anywhere in the country. Younger lads now carrying knives a lot more than used to be the case and there have been some senseless killings. Cocaine sending people, especially the younger generation, stone divvy.

You only have to look at every house in Boro, go down ormesby Bank the way in and every house and i mean every house has a burgler alarm fitted. You know saying tht I bet there are some right rough areas in Edlo these days too where you wouldnt want to walk around on a night. Kids with BMX and knives all over the shop

[mickey1975]

South Bank is as rough as anywhere I’ve been.

[Floyd the snake]

Remember talking to an ex boxer Paul Truscott a couple of years ago who is born & bred in South Bank advising me to avoid the place it's that bad .

[Cyclops]

what goes round comes round

And that just about sums it up with these lads.

[Counter-puncher]

Remember talking to an ex boxer Paul Truscott a couple of years ago who is born & bred in South Bank advising me to avoid the place it's that bad .

How’s he getting on? I saw him fight a couple of times.

[mickey1975]

Remember talking to an ex boxer Paul Truscott a couple of years ago who is born & bred in South Bank advising me to avoid the place it's that bad .

How’s he getting on? I saw him fight a couple of times.

He’s from a very rough family. His brother was very good as well. Truscott was brilliantly schooled but couldn’t punch. I’m sure Adam Smith went into growling mode when talking about South Bank, but dumped Truscott for Gary Sykes and Dewsbury Moore stories....
Never says “the absolute shitholes of Manchester or London “, though, does he?

[MasterG]

Remember talking to an ex boxer Paul Truscott a couple of years ago who is born & bred in South Bank advising me to avoid the place it's that bad .

How’s he getting on? I saw him fight a couple of times.

He’s from a very rough family. His brother was very good as well. Truscott was brilliantly schooled but couldn’t punch. I’m sure Adam Smith went into growling mode when talking about South Bank, but dumped Truscott for Gary Sykes and Dewsbury Moore stories....
Never says “the absolute shitholes of Manchester or London “, though, does he?

Wasnt Moss side in Manc supposed to be quite a rough place?

[brilo33]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

It’s as bad as anywhere in the country. Younger lads now carrying knives a lot more than used to be the case and there have been some senseless killings. Cocaine sending people, especially the younger generation, stone divvy.

i think coke gets a bad name. good coke should stop you fighting , lets just say my friends family who drink with out coke arent fun to be around type that will just kickoff with any one and have many a time , with coke they have never had a fight they talk things out total different , and thats true , its like the name marching powder sounds like going to war, the name marching powder came from marching up for count in the jail

[Jimmy2020]

Moss Side hasn't been rough for over 20 years. There's still a few knobheads here and there but the main thing that would put you off living there now are the students and all that goes with that. Nowhere in Manchester is that bad really. There's small pockets of deprivation and that does bring a few hard kids but overall it's a great and safe place to live.

[Boxerbeetle]

Teeside must be a rough spot ! My grandad lived in Redcar for most of his working life in the steelworks. Says it was rough and ready even 70 odd years ago.

It’s as bad as anywhere in the country. Younger lads now carrying knives a lot more than used to be the case and there have been some senseless killings. Cocaine sending people, especially the younger generation, stone divvy.

i think coke gets a bad name. good coke should stop you fighting , lets just say my friends family who drink with out coke arent fun to be around type that will just kickoff with any one and have many a time , with coke they have never had a fight they talk things out total different , and thats true , its like the name marching powder sounds like going to war, the name marching powder came from marching up for count in the jail

Coke is like booze and any other intoxicant really - it won’t make a nice guy start a fight, and a dickhead will probably start something regardless of what they’ve taken.

[Jimmy2020]

Maybe I'm desensitized but I like the place. Always have. You are more well heeled than me, though, I suppose. Different strokes...

[brilo33]

It’s as bad as anywhere in the country. Younger lads now carrying knives a lot more than used to be the case and there have been some senseless killings. Cocaine sending people, especially the younger generation, stone divvy.

i think coke gets a bad name. good coke should stop you fighting , lets just say my friends family who drink with out coke arent fun to be around type that will just kickoff with any one and have many a time , with coke they have never had a fight they talk things out total different , and thats true , its like the name marching powder sounds like going to war, the name marching powder came from marching up for count in the jail

Coke is like booze and any other intoxicant really - it won’t make a nice guy start a fight, and a dickhead will probably start something regardless of what they’ve taken.

nah these , which i say friends arent nice people in general one would fight himself in a phone box , on coke absolute lovey people never have i seen him have a fight on it, straight up sober or just beer talking double figures ive seen them fight , but it is usaly good coke, because rubish coke can be a demond drinks lots dont do nothing ,i find coke is more in the xctasy family rather speed meth family , scarface gave it a bad name , people assume do a big line go fight, ive not seen that usaly a big line and here comes a big story, iam not saying people dont fight on it i mean a day on it and no kip ever one para yea thats a problem , i am talking a little half

[high tower 1]

There’s far too much coke at shows these days. I used to go to shows with my dad when I was a kid. I started taking him again recently and there were groups of lads sniffing gear off their hands at the seats. It’s just awkward to be around it.

[brilo33]

There’s far too much coke at shows these days. I used to go to shows with my dad when I was a kid. I started taking him again recently and there were groups of lads sniffing gear off their hands at the seats. It’s just awkward to be around it.

true not saying its nice to be around it ,if you aint on the same leavel,but honestly, if iam not drinking i find it very hard to be around drunk people my fight or flight goes and i end up getting in a lot of rows cause of that, growing up with big drinkers , but if i know there on the toot i perfer it,i bet you 9/10 if you dont make a big deal of the drug taking they will be buying you drinks

[brilo33]

Maybe I'm desensitized but I like the place. Always have. You are more well heeled than me, though, I suppose. Different strokes...

Well, I don't know, you could be loaded for all I know, mate. But, yeah, different strokes, etc. But the data shows in objective terms what Manchester is.

Loads of those estates near the city centre and in north Manchester are proper dumps and not safe places for most folk.

The students you mention often get turned over by the locals - scallies, housebreakers, junkies, muggers, etc.

but that is the whole country though in a nutshell dirt poor my self included one street and up the road rich elite , iam a londoner think many of yuppies soon moved after they moved in next door to my family, the thing is we were ferrall but my mums great , but you have to become a scumbag in a way to survive as in not getting robbed daily beaten up and gernally mugged off as empathy is a hindrance you learn it early as going primary school

[high tower 1]

There’s far too much coke at shows these days. I used to go to shows with my dad when I was a kid. I started taking him again recently and there were groups of lads sniffing gear off their hands at the seats. It’s just awkward to be around it.

true not saying its nice to be around it ,if you aint on the same leavel,but honestly, if iam not drinking i find it very hard to be around drunk people my fight or flight goes and i end up getting in a lot of rows cause of that, growing up with big drinkers , but if i know there on the toot i perfer it,i bet you 9/10 if you dont make a big deal of the drug taking they will be buying you drinks

Doesn’t bother me. More the older crowd get put off being around it.

There’s nothing worse than being really drunk people when sober.