Gary Sykes believes he'll be putting Dewsbury on the map for all the right reasons next week.

Sykes (11-0) faces Manchester rival Anthony Crolla (13-1) in an eliminator for the British super-featherweight title at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent on May 29.

The West Yorkshire town hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last year following the disappearance of school girl Shannon Matthews.

But Sykes believes he can beat Crolla to earn a shot at domestic 9st 4lb champion Kevin Mitchell.

Sykes, 25, said: "It would be awesome if I could win the British title and would be good publicity for Dewsbury after all the bad press the town has had.

"I have enjoyed a quiet route in my professional career, gradually working my way towards a British and Commonwealth title shot.

"I wouldn't like to be big and brash only for things to fall apart but when I started, I wanted to aim for the British title and I wouldn't have turned pro if I didn't think I could achieve it."

Sykes thought his big ten rounder had fallen through earlier this month when promoter Frank Warren pulled the contest, but his promoter Frank Maloney stepped in.

Crolla, 22, has been beaten just once ironically to another Dewsbury boxer Youssef Al Hamidi a year ago.

Top of the talent crammed card is local hero Chris Edwards (12-13-3) who defends his British and Commonwealth flyweight title against Derby's Usman Ahmed (5-1-1)

Also on the top class bill, Ireland's Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland (2-0) bids to stop Georgian Tchilaia (9-8) who took Beijing golden boy DeGale the distance on his professional debut in February.

Tickets (£35 and £75) for the show which also features other top fighters from Stoke including Scott Miller and Alex Ibbs are on sale and available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Sykes vs. Crolla Added To Stoke Fight Card

  A tremendous battle between super feather prospects has been added to Frank Maloney's May 29 fight card at Fenton Manor Sports Complex In Stoke. Undefeated Dewsbury stylist Gary Sykes meets >
  
  

• Sykes and Peter Weigh in.

  Ahead of their clash happening tonight at the Events Center in Reno, heavyweight contenders Samuel Peter and Taurus Sykes weighed in. Peter, coming off a third round technical knockout of >
  
  

• Peter-Sykes This Week.

  Showtime will present a heavyweight collision this week as undefeated contender Samuel Peter comes up against once beaten contender Taurus Sykes. It's "The Bull" versus "The Nigerian Nightmare" in what >
  
  

• Explosive Peter Provides Fireworks.

  Undefeated, hard-hitting heavyweight Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter kicked off the Fourth of July weekend with a bang as he impressively tamed "The Bull," knocking out Taurus Sykes at >
  
  

• Tickets Available Online For Kell Brook vs. Young Mutley

  Tickets are now available for Kell Brook's bid to win a Lonsdale belt outright against Young Mutley on May 22. The British welterweight title fight - Brook's third defence >
  
  

• Samuel Peter: ”Who’s Next!?!?”

  

  Click for larger image © Tom Casino/Showtime "Who's next!? Who's next!?" Was the >
  
  

• Peter-Sykes Quotes.

  SAM PETER. "I am motivated for all my fights, but this guy talks so much, I am even more motivated. I will take great pleasure in closing his mouth >
  
  

• Ringside Boxing Report: Chris Edwards vs. Usman Ahmed II

  

  **With Slideshow** © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing Last night at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Frank Maloney promoted a fight-night headlined by local-man Chris Edwards’ first defence of >
  
  

• Frank Maloney Boxing: Sutherland Not Obsessed With DeGale

  Darren Sutherland refused to become obsessed with James DeGale despite the Londoner's Olympic success against the Dubliner. Beijing bronze medallist, Sutherland (2-0) bids to better DeGale at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, >
  
  

• The Big Debate: Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter vs. Taurus “The Bull” Sykes.

  

  Forget the future, is Peter the best right now? Samuel Peter (23-0, 20KOs) takes on Taurus Sykes (23-1-1, 6KOs) for the NABF and USBA heavyweight >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: , Anthony Crolla, Chris Edwards, Darren Sutherland, Frank Maloney, Gary Buckland, Gary Sykes, James DeGale, Scott Lawton, Usman Ahmed, Vepkhia Tchilaia