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Gary Sykes insists he will prove that Gary Buckland got lucky when he stopped him in one round last year.
The British super-featherweight champion is eyeing revenge when he risks his British super-featherweight title against the Welshman in a rematch at Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday September 24.
Sykes, 27, was hammered in 45 seconds by the Hatton Promotions hitter when they clashed in Prizefighter last November.
Dewsbury’s Sykes – who has sold 200 tickets for the Steel City showdown – said: “Everything now is geared towards Buckland. There will be no excuses this time.
When I lost to him in Prizefighter, there were lots of excuses as I went into that at very short notice. Me and my trainer, Julian McGowan have worked on a game plan to beat Buckland and I can assure you that he won’t be doing another Prizefighter on me.”
The Buckland loss is Gary’s only loss in 20 fights and he’ll win a Lonsdale belt outright if he succeeds next week. He won the title against Andy Morris in March 2010 and outpointed Kevin O’Hara and Carl Johanneson in subsequent defences.
He added: “I still rank my victory over Anthony Crolla as the best performance of my career, especially when you look what he has gone on to achieve.
I’ve had bigger and better nights, winning the British title against Andy Morris and the win over Carl Johanneson, but the night I fought Crolla I felt brilliant and I know I will have to be the same against Buckland.”
In the chief support, former European champion and WBC world title challenger – Rendall Munroe, meets Ryuta Miyagi in a non-title ten rounder.
Impressive prospects Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins, Richard Towers and Jezz Wilson are among the local hopefuls boxing on the bill. Heavyweight Towers and light-middleweight Etches face Belarusian’s – Yuri Bihoutseu and Yauheni Abdurazakau, respectively.
Jenkins – who has sold 300 tickets – bids for his second professional win against a selected opponent. Wilson faces Deeside’s exciting light-middleweight – Tom Doran, in a battle of Hatton promoted hopefuls.
And the Steel city’s former Commonwealth light-heavyweight challenger – Billy Boyle, faces Welsh banger – Justyn Hugh.
Manchester’s former amateur star – Tommy Stubbs, makes his pro debut when he faces, tricky Kuwaiti Anwar Alfaldi, who boxes out of Brendan Ingle’s stable.
There are some tickets left priced £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222. Be quick, this show will sell-out. The card will be screened live by Sky Sports.
