Gary Sykes Vs Craig Johnson Added To Barnsley Boxing Bill

An important matchup of British prospects has been added to the Frank Maloney promoted card featuring European super bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe’s rematch against deadly Spaniard Kiko Martinez on Friday, February 27, 2009 at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.

Gary “Five Star” Sykes will put his undefeated record on the line when he meets spoiler Craig Johnson in a scheduled six rounder at super featherweight.

24 year old Sykes, 10-0 (4), has been busy pounding his way up the ranks since turning professional three years ago and the former ABA champion from Dewsbury in Yorkshire sports the division’s fastest hands on the domestic scene.

It was that blinding speed which earned him the honor of sparring with Commonwealth lightweight kingpin Amir Khan last year, but it was the superb all-around skill of Sykes that allowed him to go even up with the more experienced Bolton wonder.

Sykes has barely lost a round in his ten bouts to date but will pit his busy style against the more direct approach favored by his opponent on February 27, Craig Johnson, who has faced the tougher opposition.

Johnson, 9-3 (0), an iron-chinned 28 year old from Clay Cross, Derbyshire, saw a three year, six bout win streak fall in a Midlands Area lightweight title scrap with future English champ Martin Gethin during a very close contest in September, 2007.

Two bouts later, Johnson came up short by a small margin to undefeated Scottish lightweight titlist Charlie Paul King but showed improvement as he roared back in his most recent bout to put the first loss on the record of highly touted Manchester area prospect Jonathan Kays last November.

With a British title eliminator looming on the horizon for Sykes, “The Dewsbury Demon” cannot afford anything less than a picture perfect performance if he is to get past this difficult challenge posed by the tenacious Johnson.

Frank Maloney Promotions presents Rendall Munroe vs. Kiko Martinez for the Super Bantamweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 10PM.