BoxRec

coneye wrote: ↑15 Feb 2022, 17:06 All kids cann be forgiven for a bit of hero worship and being starry eyed its part of growing up , the ones i just cant fathom are the grown men who become complete mongs who hero worship plastic gangsters and football thugs

Well unlike some Sykes groupies I came to realise what a complete tw*t he was and distanced myself from him. When his infamous book came out I quickly scanned every page to see if my name appeared ... thankfully I wasn't mentioned.

Last time I encountered him was at a Henry Wharton bill at Leeds Town Hall, he turned up rat arsed, wearing a hideous 1970's wide lapelled beige suit and a kipper tie just as the last fight was starting, an absolutely dire encounter between Nick Manners and Kevin Morton.

Sykes spent the entire contest shouting 'come on Durham, one hit' (I later learned that he and Manners were in Durham nick at the same time) however despite his helpful advice Manners was unable to produce the 'one hit' and lost on points.

I made sure to avoid Sykes while leaving, fearful that he may recognise me and try engage me in conversation.

Terry Mintus who was working the door was quite saddened to see what a pathetic figure Sykes had become and told me 'he could have had it all'

662081 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2022, 17:36

coneye wrote: ↑15 Feb 2022, 17:06 All kids cann be forgiven for a bit of hero worship and being starry eyed its part of growing up , the ones i just cant fathom are the grown men who become complete mongs who hero worship plastic gangsters and football thugs

Well unlike some Sykes groupies I came to realise what a complete tw*t he was and distanced myself from him. When his infamous book came out I quickly scanned every page to see if my name appeared ... thankfully I wasn't mentioned.

Last time I encountered him was at a Henry Wharton bill at Leeds Town Hall, he turned up rat arsed, wearing a hideous 1970's wide lapelled beige suit and a kipper tie just as the last fight was starting, an absolutely dire encounter between Nick Manners and Kevin Morton.

Sykes spent the entire contest shouting 'come on Durham, one hit' (I later learned that he and Manners were in Durham nick at the same time) however despite his helpful advice Manners was unable to produce the 'one hit' and lost on points.

I made sure to avoid Sykes while leaving, fearful that he may recognise me and try engage me in conversation.

Terry Mintus who was working the door was quite saddened to see what a pathetic figure Sykes had become and told me 'he could have had it all'

I’ve heard that about a few folk, they could have had it all. The reality is they got all they wanted and then paid the price.

Whenever he was in Pocklington, former British Heavyweight title challenger Paul Sykes of Wakefield, was always sure to visit W.F Burton Butchers to pick up one of their famous 'Navvies Breakfasts'

Polidori wrote: ↑15 Feb 2022, 07:45 @Bennie

Speaking of Shaun Doyle/Barnsley Civic Hall I went to what was possibly the worst attended British title fight in history when he promoted Henry Rhiney v Billy Waith for the British Welterweight title.

Luton v Wales in Barnsley .. bizarre (terrible undercard as well)


Like the ill fated Aird v Dunn fight the enterprising Mr Doyie seemed to specialise in title fights no one else wanted, both Rhiney and Waith were highly skilled wily craftsmen who were never involved in exciting fights, Rhiney had lost several non title fights since winning the title and Waith was coming off a KO loss on the continent (I confess I had to check that) so Doyie ended up with the fight as the only bidder.

It was an interesting display of boxing from both with any real highlights, Rhiney had a superb jab and Waith's defense was superb in front of I'd say less than 200 people, including a small but vocal group who had come from Wales to support Waith.

I remember when Duke McKenzie took on Charlie Magri in May 1986 at the cavernous Wembley Arena, there were only a few hundred fans in attendance, which is shame for a British and European title fight. They were all rooting for Magri, who was a big draw at his peak but was well past it by 1986 and McKenzie stopped him in the middle rounds. It was Magri's last fight.
The Rhiney-Waith fight was quite intriguing in its own way. Boxing News tipped Waith to win because he was boxing better than ever while Rhiney, as you mention, had endured a miserable two years as British champion, losing non-title fights and switching everyone off. The trade rooted for Waith, a marvellous servant to the domestic game, but Rhiney proved too good and went on to win the European title with a stunning knockout overseas. The Luton stylist, brilliant in the gym, toyed with Carlos Palomino in sparring when Palomino was over here for the Stracey fight.
As for Waith, I never saw him for real until he faced Leicester's Chris Pyatt at the Albert Hall in 1983, on a bill topped by Frank Bruno against Eddie Neilson. It was only Pyatt's second pro outing and Billy, a veteran of 91 fights, would surely mess him around and lose on points. Pyatt attacked hard but Waith's defensive moves were a joy and it looked done and dusted when Billy got nailed right at the end and down he went. He beat the count but Pyatt jumped on him and referee Sid Nathan dived in with only five seconds to go in the eight-rounder. Waith didn't complain. In victory, Pyatt joined a select group who can say they actually stopped Billy Waith.
Waith only had two more fights before walking away and I missed him at a boxing 'do' in Cardiff in 2002, which is a regret. Micky Vann, who fought Waith in the pros, later told me that Billy had been there. Meanwhile, Pyatt kept on winning and looked a tremendous prospect but he never developed a decent left jab and that cost him at world level, although he did eventually win the WBO middleweight title with an 'iffy' decision over Sumbu Kalambay in Leicester in 1993, throwing everything at Kalambay in the closing rounds.

Did Paul Sykes fight Roy Shaw while banged up does anybody know, heard that he did but can't substantiate this?

Wonder if Paul Sykes would get cancelled if her were around today. Didn’t seem very woke.

bennie wrote: ↑16 Feb 2022, 06:06
In victory, Pyatt joined a select group who can say they actually stopped Billy Waith.

Bizarrely Waith was knocked out in 2 by frequent loser Dennis Pryce who was almost 6lbs lighter with only had 3 stoppages in 24 wins

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 01:39

bennie wrote: ↑16 Feb 2022, 06:06
In victory, Pyatt joined a select group who can say they actually stopped Billy Waith.

Bizarrely Waith was knocked out in 2 by frequent loser Dennis Pryce who was almost 6lbs lighter with only had 3 stoppages in 24 wins

I remember that one, mate. Waith got caught by an overhand right and went down on his face, completely 'out'. Harry Gibbs didn't need to count but he did. I think the result was a combination of freak knockout and Billy's long, hard career beginning to show.

clivelawrence wrote: ↑16 Feb 2022, 16:10 Did Paul Sykes fight Roy Shaw while banged up does anybody know, heard that he did but can't substantiate this?

Here's another boring 'I was there' story (sorry if I've dominated the last few pages with those)

After the loss to Gardner I was sat in the changing room and a stocky man, wearing a gaudy pin striped suit, too much after shave and sporting a terrible comb over (he was also accompanied by a giant minder) entered the changing room and Sykes fell down on the bench he was sat on, put his arm being his back and feigned agony/fear saying 'I don't have your snout, I'll get it to you tomorrow'

This amused the stocky balding man, who then offered Sykes words of comfort, kissed him on the cheeks, and took the towel that Sykes has round his neck, wiped his hands and threw the towel on the floor.

Sykes introduced me as 'the leader of my fan club' and Mr Comb Over gave me the world's most powerful handshake (tw*t)

I later learned that man was ... Roy Shaw (I'd never heard of him before, his fearsome reputation not having reached Carlton Mr Wakefield)

Anyway after that needlessly long digression, to answer your question .. given the somewhat deferential manner and faux terror Sykes showed I very much doubt they did ever fight.

@Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT



He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:22

clivelawrence wrote: ↑16 Feb 2022, 16:10 Did Paul Sykes fight Roy Shaw while banged up does anybody know, heard that he did but can't substantiate this?

Here's another boring 'I was there' story (sorry if I've dominated the last few pages with those)

After the loss to Gardner I was sat in the changing room and a stocky man, wearing a gaudy pin striped suit, too much after shave and sporting a terrible comb over (he was also accompanied by a giant minder) entered the changing room and Sykes fell down on the bench he was sat on, put his arm being his back and feigned agony/fear saying 'I don't have your snout, I'll get it to you tomorrow'

This amused the stocky balding man, who then offered Sykes words of comfort, kissed him on the cheeks, and took the towel that Sykes has round his neck, wiped his hands and threw the towel on the floor.

Sykes introduced me as 'the leader of my fan club' and Mr Comb Over gave me the world's most powerful handshake (tw*t)

I later learned that man was ... Roy Shaw (I'd never heard of him before, his fearsome reputation not having reached Carlton Mr Wakefield)

Anyway after that needlessly long digression, to answer your question .. given the somewhat deferential manner and faux terror Sykes showed I very much doubt they did ever fight.

Hmm, not sure what you’re rambling on about here me old love.

Sykes was due to fight Lenny Mclean, the 2 x times destroyer of an ageing and much smaller Roy Shaw. Feigning injury to avoid a squabble patently doesn’t seem in this guy’s makeup, far too much testosterone for that. Can’t see why he would agree to duke it out with Mclean yet be petrified of the marginally less menacing Shaw. There is a fair chance Sykes could have done them both on the same billing and in the combined time it takes to boil an egg, such was his superiority at gloved boxing (he was every bit as inclined to street fighting and every bit as psychotic, and would likely have bested them both in a good old fashioned pub car park scrap).

clivelawrence wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 12:09
Hmm, not sure what you’re rambling on about here me old love.

Sykes was due to fight Lenny Mclean, the 2 x times destroyer of an ageing and much smaller Roy Shaw. Feigning injury to avoid a squabble patently doesn’t seem in this guy’s makeup, far too much testosterone for that. Can’t see why he would agree to duke it out with Mclean yet be petrified of the marginally less menacing Shaw. There is a fair chance Sykes could have done them both on the same billing and in the combined time it takes to boil an egg, such was his superiority at gloved boxing (he was every bit as inclined to street fighting and every bit as psychotic, and would likely have bested them both in a good old fashioned pub car park scrap).

Is there any need to be quite so patronising?

I wasn't aware I was 'rambling' about anything, I merely offered what I hoped was a mildly amusing anecdote about my encounter with Shaw.

And if you failed to pick up on the fact I was being highly facetious with my comments about Sykes fighting Shaw, you're clearly a bit dim ... 'old love'

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:26 @Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT



He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

I'm old enough to remember watching this at the time. Steve Early mystified me because his amateur pedigree was outstanding and as a pro be beat the likes of Ken Buchanan (in a 12-rounder), Najib Daho and Dave McCabe but when he challenged Clinton McKenzie for the British light-welterweight title in London in 1982, he was terrible and McKenzie outclassed him in four rounds. He also looked terrible on another London bill when an obscure import by the name of Oscar Aparicio stopped him in six rounds, although I seem to remember that Early suffered a hand injury in the fight, but he was terrible from the opening bell.
Incidentally, F rank Warren promoted McKenzie-Early and secured television coverage for the fight on the BBC, previously the exclusive domain of the Cartel. Mickey Duff was so touchy on the subject of Warren around this time that when Boxing News printed a two-page Warren advert in which he offered the Cartel's Charlie Magri a huge purse to take on Keith Wallace, Duff banned Boxing News.

bennie wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 02:33

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:26 @Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT



He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

I'm old enough to remember watching this at the time. Steve Early mystified me because his amateur pedigree was outstanding and as a pro be beat the likes of Ken Buchanan (in a 12-rounder), Najib Daho and Dave McCabe but when he challenged Clinton McKenzie for the British light-welterweight title in London in 1982, he was terrible and McKenzie outclassed him in four rounds. He also looked terrible on another London bill when an obscure import by the name of Oscar Aparicio stopped him in six rounds, although I seem to remember that Early suffered a hand injury in the fight, but he was terrible from the opening bell.
Incidentally, F rank Warren promoted McKenzie-Early and secured television coverage for the fight on the BBC, previously the exclusive domain of the Cartel. Mickey Duff was so touchy on the subject of Warren around this time that when Boxing News printed a two-page Warren advert in which he offered the Cartel's Charlie Magri a huge purse to take on Keith Wallace, Duff banned Boxing News.

Are or were you involved in boxing in some way Bennie, your memory of fights and fighters is outstanding. Or did you just go to a lot of fights as a fan and have a great memory. I’ve been to a few over the years but I rarely remember the undercard fights or if I do I can’t remember the specifics. Or do you refer back to old boxing reports to refresh your brain?

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:26 @Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT

He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

Thanks Polidori

Controversial wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 03:20

bennie wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 02:33

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:26 @Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT



He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

I'm old enough to remember watching this at the time. Steve Early mystified me because his amateur pedigree was outstanding and as a pro be beat the likes of Ken Buchanan (in a 12-rounder), Najib Daho and Dave McCabe but when he challenged Clinton McKenzie for the British light-welterweight title in London in 1982, he was terrible and McKenzie outclassed him in four rounds. He also looked terrible on another London bill when an obscure import by the name of Oscar Aparicio stopped him in six rounds, although I seem to remember that Early suffered a hand injury in the fight, but he was terrible from the opening bell.
Incidentally, F rank Warren promoted McKenzie-Early and secured television coverage for the fight on the BBC, previously the exclusive domain of the Cartel. Mickey Duff was so touchy on the subject of Warren around this time that when Boxing News printed a two-page Warren advert in which he offered the Cartel's Charlie Magri a huge purse to take on Keith Wallace, Duff banned Boxing News.

Are or were you involved in boxing in some way Bennie, your memory of fights and fighters is outstanding. Or did you just go to a lot of fights as a fan and have a great memory. I’ve been to a few over the years but I rarely remember the undercard fights or if I do I can’t remember the specifics. Or do you refer back to old boxing reports to refresh your brain?

A bit of everything, mate. The fight game is etched in the memory from the late 1970s to about 1990 and I have most complete years of Boxing News between that period, which I can turn to. I enjoy looking at the old reports.

bennie wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 03:36

Controversial wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 03:20

bennie wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 02:33


I'm old enough to remember watching this at the time. Steve Early mystified me because his amateur pedigree was outstanding and as a pro be beat the likes of Ken Buchanan (in a 12-rounder), Najib Daho and Dave McCabe but when he challenged Clinton McKenzie for the British light-welterweight title in London in 1982, he was terrible and McKenzie outclassed him in four rounds. He also looked terrible on another London bill when an obscure import by the name of Oscar Aparicio stopped him in six rounds, although I seem to remember that Early suffered a hand injury in the fight, but he was terrible from the opening bell.
Incidentally, F rank Warren promoted McKenzie-Early and secured television coverage for the fight on the BBC, previously the exclusive domain of the Cartel. Mickey Duff was so touchy on the subject of Warren around this time that when Boxing News printed a two-page Warren advert in which he offered the Cartel's Charlie Magri a huge purse to take on Keith Wallace, Duff banned Boxing News.

Are or were you involved in boxing in some way Bennie, your memory of fights and fighters is outstanding. Or did you just go to a lot of fights as a fan and have a great memory. I’ve been to a few over the years but I rarely remember the undercard fights or if I do I can’t remember the specifics. Or do you refer back to old boxing reports to refresh your brain?

A bit of everything, mate. The fight game is etched in the memory from the late 1970s to about 1990 and I have most complete years of Boxing News between that period, which I can turn to. I enjoy looking at the old reports.

Boxing News always a good source of info, nice one mate.

Controversial wrote: ↑18 Feb 2022, 03:21

Polidori wrote: ↑17 Feb 2022, 11:26 @Bennie/@Controversial

There's actually a Waith fight on YT

He fought British title eliminators at four different weights, quite a remarkable achievement.

Thanks Polidori

Yes, Billy was quite famous for his eliminators because he ran into Doncaster's lethal-punching Howard Hayes at featherweight, future world champion Jim Watt at lightweight, the animal that was Dave "Boy" Green at light-welterweight and finally and successfully, Steve Angell at welter. Only Green stopped him, and it took the Fen Tiger 11 rounds.
Sadly, Billy is probably best-remembered for his fight with Welsh rival Colin Jones in London in January 1980. The unbeaten, vicious-punching Jones was smart enough to target Waith's body and finished him with a body blows in the sixth but Waith claimed that they were kidney punches and that Jones had also targetted the base of his spine. Referee Roland Dakin brushed off Waith's claims in the fight but the Board did hold an inquiry, exonerating Jones and Dakin. Waith, said the Board, had turned into the punches.

Finally got here

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

That's surely the epitath equivalent of #fakenews...

Deserter wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 07:43

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

That's surely the epitath equivalent of #fakenews...

I can only assume the text is ironic throughout.

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

I can see a ghost in this image.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 10:56

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

I can see a ghost in this image.

Looks like Micky Theo

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 10:56

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

I can see a ghost in this image.

Yeah won’t be the ghost of Paul Sykes, that one would have a can of super Tennant’s in one hand and shadow boxing with the other.

Although an allround disgusting bad egg, for whatever reason one of those blokes I found interesting.

A bloke I know reckons he had a run in with him in Blackpool many years back but the situation fizzled out when joe public got in the middle of them. Can’t see it being Sykes, not sure he was the sort of character who would have let a confrontation drop, especially as he’d have been boozed up.

clivelawrence wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 11:36

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 10:56

MasterG wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:46 Finally got here

I can see a ghost in this image.

Yeah won’t be the ghost of Paul Sykes, that one would have a can of super Tennant’s in one hand and shadow boxing with the other.

Although an allround disgusting bad egg, for whatever reason one of those blokes I found interesting.

A bloke I know reckons he had a run in with him in Blackpool many years back but the situation fizzled out when joe public got in the middle of them. Can’t see it being Sykes, not sure he was the sort of character who would have let a confrontation drop, especially as he’d have been boozed up.

He spent a lot of time in Blackpool.