Sykes set to return at lightweight

Dewsbury boxer Gary Sykes is targeting his return to the ring and will move up to lightweight for his next fight.

Sykes moves up to lightweight and will return to action either on Saturday July 25, or on the outdoor ‘Rumble on the Humber’ card, topped by Tommy Coyle and Luke Campbell on August 1 at Hull KR’s Craven Park.

Victory on Sykes’s return could set up a huge title fight on the undercard to Leeds star Josh Warrington’s clash against Australian Joel Brunker at the First Direct Arena on September 5.

Sykes suffered defeat to Liam Walsh at London’s ExCeL Arena back in November when he recovered from a first round knockdown to take the Cromer man the full 12 rounds before losing on points in their British and Commonwealth super featherweight clash.

Sykes said: “I only recently watched the Walsh fight back and it was a terrible performance from me.

“The knock down took everything I had away and I was left to survive for the rest of the fight rather than box.

“Liam was the best I have fought but I did nothing we had worked on in the gym that night.

“You can not go into a title fight on the back of a loss, so I need to pick up a win, which could lead me to fighting on Josh’s bill in Leeds.

“I could be fighting on the Coyle-Campbell open air show in Hull or it will be the week before but the plan is to get a win and then get me another big title fight.”

Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport are promoting both the Campbell-Coyle show in Hull and Warrington’s WBC International and Commonwealth featherweight showdown with Brunker in Leeds.

Hearn announced the undercard to Warrington’s bill this week and it includes Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell defending his European super bantamweight title against Jeremy Parodi and Wakefield’s Andy Townsend defending his English super featherweight crown against Lee Glover.

Lancashire’s Scotty Cardle has also been added to the huge Leeds show, as he makes a first defence of his British lightweight title, with an opponent to be named.

Cardle has won all 18 of his professional fights and defeated Craig Evans to win the British lightweight title back in May.

Sykes added: “I’d like to thank Shaun Henley, at Henley Stone, for his continued support and sponsorship, which has allowed me to continue my career.