Paul Sykes .. info from my UK friends ..

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Sep 28, 2021.



  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    Very interesting ..
     
  2. johnmaff36

    johnmaff36 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    complete head the ball. Was supposed to fight lenny mc lean but something happened and it fell through. mind you, the guys in that scene who had a bit of boxing behind them, regardless of their unimpressive pro records, tended to batter the likes of mclean when they met, like cliff fields and johnny waldron.
     
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  3. Loudon

    Loudon VIP Member Full Member

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    Have you read any of Jamie Boyle’s books yet?

    He’s an author from Middlesbrough.

    He writes about lots of interesting characters, especially from the North East where he’s from.

    He’s done three books on the life of Paul Sykes.

    He’s also done two on Lee Duffy and one on Brian Cockerill.

    I really enjoyed the ones on Duffy.

    If you’re not familiar with him, check him out.

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...boyle/932221&usg=AOvVaw3W_rUOj1bBq2rxPOID9rH5
     
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  4. Loudon

    Loudon VIP Member Full Member

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    Put this up on the British section.

    You may get more replies.
     
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  5. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    Great idea. Will do
     
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  6. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    Thank you.
     
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  7. Loudon

    Loudon VIP Member Full Member

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    I can recommend the Lee Duffy ones.

    Duffy was a notorious hard man like Sykes, who died at just 26.

    He terrorised Middlesbrough in the late 80’s-early 90’s.

    Jamie Boyle’s books are great, and he interviews people who know/knew of his subjects first hand.

    Some of the stories of Duffy are unbelievable.

    I’m going to get the ones on Sykes next.

    The Brian Cockerill ones are great too.
     
  8. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    I will start with the Duffy one for sure .. I wanted to grab Sykes own book but it is very pricey ..curious as you seem to be up on this to a degree .. how serious a force out of the ring do you rate Lenny McLean ? Seems like many in the UK have mixed feelings ..
     
  9. Loudon

    Loudon VIP Member Full Member

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    Out of the ring?

    A huge force.
     
  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    So his reputation as an out of the ring street fighter is legit .. I've read on Youtube comments many seem to feel , outside the ring, Skypoes wold have wrecked him .. I know its hypothetical ..
     
  11. Loudon

    Loudon VIP Member Full Member

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    Inside and outside of the ring are 2 different things entirely.

    Unless he’d have met his equal, I’d say that generally, he was a huge force.

    Look how physically strong he was. Brought up in a world of violence. He may not have been technically gifted in the ring, but he’d have wanted some serious stopping in a bare knuckle/street fight.

    Sure, if he’d have met his equal, then who knows. But to the average hard man on the street, he’d have been a huge proposition for sure.

    From what I’ve read about Sykes, he was similar to Lenny, in that he was a big, powerful man, with no fear of anybody.

    You need to read up on Duffy and Cockerill.

    Cockerill vs Lenny in a street fight would have been awesome.

    Sykes and Duffy were once in the same jail, but they never got it on. That hypothetical fight has also been debated for years.

    I don’t think anyone could say for sure how a Sykes-Lenny fight would have gone. Not unless you’d have known them personally.