BoxRec

mercman wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 13:07

Controversial wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 11:46

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

I think that was the year Sykes was in the ABAs, though he lost a controversial decision in the semis to the eventual winner. He was also meant to turn pro around then but he got locked up (again) and didn't turn over until five years later.

It might have been interesting if Sykes had turned professional circa '73 because he'd have been 26 or 27 then and coming to his peak. They wouldn't have had to rush him so much either had he been younger.

Thing is, it's pointless theorising about Sykes, his sort always find a way of screwing up.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 13:15 Anyone know if his book is still out there for purchase?

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 13:15 Anyone know if his book is still out there for purchase?

Noxy wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 04:15

coneye wrote: ↑29 Jul 2019, 19:29 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.

Loftgroov wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:32

Noxy wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 04:15

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

I've read the books on Sykes, Lee Duffy etc.

I certainly don't idolise them or even respect them - Duffy for example was obviously just a bullying cretin. But they are "interesting" reads. They aren't the sort of people you encounter in day-to-day life so reading about their exploits, no doubt some of which are embellished, is a reasonable way to pass a few hours.

Loftgroov wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:32

Noxy wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 04:15

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

I've read the books on Sykes, Lee Duffy etc.

I certainly don't idolise them or even respect them - Duffy for example was obviously just a bullying cretin. But they are "interesting" reads. They aren't the sort of people you encounter in day-to-day life so reading about their exploits, no doubt some of which are embellished, is a reasonable way to pass a few hours.

dookus wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 18:42

Loftgroov wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 16:32

I've read the books on Sykes, Lee Duffy etc.

I certainly don't idolise them or even respect them - Duffy for example was obviously just a bullying cretin. But they are "interesting" reads. They aren't the sort of people you encounter in day-to-day life so reading about their exploits, no doubt some of which are embellished, is a reasonable way to pass a few hours.

Outlandish weirdos who find some way to impose themselves on this life, even if only for a short time, will always be fascinating. Duffy was, by most accounts, as worthless a human being as can be imagined, yet nearly 30 years after his death his name still keeps coming up

MasterG wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 19:01

dookus wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 18:42
Outlandish weirdos who find some way to impose themselves on this life, even if only for a short time, will always be fascinating. Duffy was, by most accounts, as worthless a human being as can be imagined, yet nearly 30 years after his death his name still keeps coming up

Duffy did a good turn you can read my bit in the book that actually says something good.

Stuartd75 wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 18:47 Boyle appears to specialise in books on absolute scumbags. Has he ever written a book about someone that wasn't just a bully?

TheGingerBomber wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 20:16 I admire tough men, but I don’t like the glorification of gangsters and wronguns.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 19:20

MasterG wrote: ↑30 Jul 2019, 19:01

Duffy did a good turn you can read my bit in the book that actually says something good.

Your wrote in the book? You a big shot

bynino wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 04:07 I was watching that Sykes film. He just a wall-puncher. He reminds me a bit of "bad man" Frenchy.

bennie wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 04:48 It is a shame that Sykes failed to regroup from the Gardner defeat because the domestic heavyweight division was crying out for a serious player with a bit of devil in his work as the 1970s drew to a close and Sykes fitted the bill perfectly. He badly hurt one of his opponents, an American by the name of Dave Wilson, who eventually and thankfully recovered, and had the ability and the conditioning to better the likes of Gordon Ferris, Billy Aird and Neville Meade, who shored up the British title after Gardner won the European title and moved into the world rankings. Even Paul's quick defeat at the hands of Nigeria's Ngozika Ekwelum in Lagos in March 1980 failed to dent his domestic rating (and Ekwelum could nothing if not whack). However, Sykes was unable to make a second push under the management of Tommy Miller, who once told me that the fighter was uncontrollable while marvelling at the man's conditioning and form in the gym. Personally, I feel that Sykes needed to get out of Yorkshire to get the best out of him. He needed a strong manager and a strong trainer, a Mickey Duff and a George Francis, some serious sparring, trips to the States and shrewd matchmaking. London, perhaps, would have offered to many distractions but we'll never know. In the end, joined the list of heavyweight prospects who all disappointed around that time, such as Joe Awome, Andy Palmer and Stan McDermott, and that's a shame. Fortunately, one Frank Bruno was waiting in the wings (and perhaps inevitably, Joe Bugner).

banjo wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 04:29

bynino wrote: ↑31 Jul 2019, 04:07 I was watching that Sykes film. He just a wall-puncher. He reminds me a bit of "bad man" Frenchy.

Wasn't Frenchy a European Kickboxing Champion though?