Sykes set to meet Walsh on huge Manchester bill

Sykes looks set to meet Cromer’s Liam Walsh when the British and Commonwealth super featherweight titles will be on he line at the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester on July 26.

The fight is scheduled to be on the huge Tyson Fury v Dereck Chisora heavyweight bill.

Dewsbury hero Sykes reclaimed the British title in a thriller last Saturday against Jon Kays when he came back from a cut eye in the first round and a knockdown in the second to stop Kays in the 10th.

Sykes, who won the Lonsdale belt outright on the night, is now promising to follow that up by taking Walsh’s Commonwealth title off him.

The Dewsbury man said: “I’ve just come off a hard fight against Kays to win the title back and I’m going straight back in to defend it against a top kid in Walsh.

“I had to dig really deep against Kays, but when it gets hard I always seem to find it in myself to pull through and win, I don’t think it will be any different against Walsh, it will be a hard fight,”

“There’s no way Wash is taking that belt off me. Experience is on my side, I’ve had double the amount of fights he’s had, he’s not tasted what defeat is like and to come back from it, but there will be a first time for him when he meets me,”

“I made hard work of Kays and I’m sure Walsh will take some confidence from seeing my performance, but I’ll be bringing my A-game to win in style on the night.”

Walsh is fit and raring to get back into action again after a long spell out of the ring due to a hand injury and cut eye, with his last victory coming against Joe Murray last September.

The undefeated Cromer fighter was ringside at Dewsbury Sports Centre to watch Sykes defeat Kays and was impressed with his performance, but is confident of taking the title.

Walsh said: “I’m really excited to get it on against Sykes with his British and my Commonwealth title on the line in what will be a cracking fight on a great show.

“I commend his performance on Saturday night against Kays, there’s no question about his heart to come back from a cut eye and knockdown to stop him in the tenth. A thoroughly deserved win, but now he’s up against me,

“I know what he brings to the table and I’m confident that I’ve got the skill and talent to beat him. It’s been my dream to win the British title and I’ll fight with every ounce I’ve got in me to take that title off him and become a double champion.”

See this week’s papers for an eight-page supplement on Sykes’s title triumph and full reaction from a thrilling night in Dewsbury.