Sykes to meet Dodd for WBC International belt

Gary Sykes says he will put everything on the line when he meets Birkenhead's Sean Dodd for the WBC International title on October 15.
Gary Sykes will challenge Sean Dodd for the WBC International title at the Liverpool Echo Arena on October 15.Gary Sykes will challenge Sean Dodd for the WBC International title at the Liverpool Echo Arena on October 15.
Gary Sykes will challenge Sean Dodd for the WBC International title at the Liverpool Echo Arena on October 15.

The Dewsbury boxer has been handed the showdown with Birkenhead’s Dodd, with the fight to take place on the undercard to Tony Bellew’s WBC World title fight against BJ Flores at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Sykes goes into the fight on the back of defeat to Luke Campbell last March and the 32-year-old admits defeat would almost certainly signal the end of his career.

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Sykes said: “This is an all or nothing fight for me and if I lose I will call it a day as there would be no more belts for me to go for.

“The WBC International is a beautiful belt and a win would also get me a ranking with the WBC, which would be great.

“Camp started this week and I am going to go through eight weeks of hell and give it everything I’ve got.”

Dodd defeated Italy’s Pasquale Di Silvio at Goodison Park in May to claim the WBC International crown and defends for the first time against Sykes.

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Dodd twice pushed Scott Cardle close in British lightweight title fights before being handed a chance to fight for the WBC International crown.

The Birkenhead man is a huge ticket seller on Merseyside, with plenty backing his rags to riches story.

Sykes said: “I’ve read about Sean and it seems like a real Rocky story with what he’s gone through. I also think he sells around £50,000 worth of tickets, so I hope I can take a few supporters over with me.

“He seems like a nice guy and tweeted me after the fight was confirmed.”

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Sykes is vastly more experienced than Dodd, having won 28 of his 33 bouts as a professional, compared to the Birkenhead man’s 14 fights (11 wins, two defeats and a draw).

Although tickets went on sale via promoters Matchroom this week, Sykes will receive his own allocation next week, which will be available from his base at Dicky’s Gym in Batley.

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