Gary Sykes vs. Gary Buckland II, 9/24

Finally!

The Prizefighter rematch for the British 130lb title is a year in the making. Somehow, Sykes has been allowed to make one - voluntary? - defense against Carl Johanneson and to take a no-limit non-title tune-up in the span of time that Buckland has been waiting to claim that elusive title (held high over his head by a taunting older brother type in John Murray in their memorable clash last May) from the man he knocked out in a minute flat.

There can be only one British champion at super featherweight - and only one top Gary. :bbb

Also on the card is the boxing binman, Rendall Munroe. In his second confidence booster since losing a world title bid to the classier Toshiaki Nishioka, he faces a countryman of the WBA champ who's build up a decent looking but padded record. Ryu Miyagi has a couple of bright spots on his resume - a points win over Ryol Li Lee and a pair of draws with Jimrex Jaca - but the former was over a very green Lee and the latter came on a combined three rounds of action, and all were technical decisions thanks to Miyagi's propensity for getting cut early from headbutts. In reality this is someone even Munroe with his low KO % but somewhat reasonably heavy hands and high-pressure style should be able to rack up a rare stoppage win over - be it on cuts, intervention, or a down-for-the-count scenario. A distance haul would be a rubbish result for the binman.

The tertiary bout on the marquee is fairly intriguing in itself. "Dazzling" Tom Doran is technically undefeated, but owes that status entirely to the incompetence or corruption of Howard John Foster after being awarded a nonsensical first round TKO win over Max Maxwell in a fight where he himself was getting trounced and almost knocked out cold for most of three minutes. His opponent is "Smoking" Jez Wilson, who drew with Maxwell a year ago and holds a win over Prizefighter SMW winner Patrick Mendy - but has also been kayoed by an African journeyman. :think


Decent SKY card here.

 

Nice work IB!

I think Sykes outboxes him this time. Anything can happen in prizefighter, and Sykes was just caught by a very very good shot. Buckland is a half decent boxer, and obviously has the power to trouble and stop the other Gary, but I think Sykes uses to speed to stay out of harms way and rack up a points victory.

It's also good to see Munroe back. He's been far too inactive since losing his world title fight last year. I wonder how much it has taken out of him as he didn't look that great last time either. It's a shame as ive always liked him. But he should still have enough to beat this fella

 

Sykes on points for me.

 

Gbuck can hurt him sykes cannot, Sykes worried about his him GBuck is not

game over

 

I would have said it a diffrent way but you could be right

 

I was very disappointed that this fight took so long to be made, does anyone know why? I always liked Sykes before that PF, but hope he was not trying to avoid the rematch (I am asking, not accusing!!). I think that Sykes should have too much this time, so should win late/on points, but if he gets caught like that again he'll likely get stopped again... It's like a mini-early (lightweight) Amir Khan fight.

 

Sykes on points

 

Buckland will make it a war knowing he has the power to flatten Sykes and Sykes won't be able to avoid Buckland enough to survive if he wants to rack up the points to win. Buckland by UD if Sykes wants to survive, Buckland KO if Sykes wants to win.

 

The last couple of times I've watch Buckland he gives me the impression he has fallen in love with his power at the lower weight.

He needs to be a little more refined otherwise he will lose.

 

Tough one to call this.

Two ways of looking at it. Buckland sparked him in PF in a minute and Sykes though he beat a solid Carl Johannsen was knocked down and looked shaky in the process and Johannsen is clearly past his best.

OR

Buckland scored a lucky one shot ko in PF over an overconfident Sykes. Over the championship distance Sykes will be clever enough to box his way to a decision. His getting up off the floor to beat Johannsen proves he can overcome adversity to win.


I have no idea which of these views i subscribe to. :conf

 

Grant i think your right, I hope he snaps out of it and looks to just pressure Sykes and keep him on back foot whilst working him over on the inside.

Sykes is showing more vulnerability recently then before although shown he's got great heart against CJ but that fight will give Gary more hope.

It's a hard one to call and we may well see Sykes start off more cautious then ever before as he maybe wary. I still feel even with a good start Buckland can land and hurt Sykes in a real trench battle and stop him late on this time.

I think CJ was to tired to finish his work last time. Buckland TKO9

 

He's more likely to land the big one that way in any case.

 

Sykes UD.

 

Yeah, I like fighters to let there hands go without loading up. Bellew's the same in Ajisafe and McKenzie I. Looking for that one big punch and he's even admitted it. Just get close to Sykes and panic him he has habits of moving back in a straight line with chin up and that's when you put a bit more mustard on your shots.

 

Buckland stops him again.

He's just a better fighter.