Gary Sykes Beats Kevin O'Hara To Retain British Crown

By Alexey Sukachev

Yorkshire native Gary Sykes (16-0 with 4 KOs) was successful in the initial defense of his British super featherweight title moments ago at Leisure Center in Huddersfield, UK, with his twelve-round unanimous decision over gutsy yet overmatched challenger Kevin O'Hara (now 17-6 with 5 KOs). Sykes, who dethroned Andy Morris recently, took some time to adjust himself to the awkward Belfast resident and dropped him in the first couple of rounds. O'Hara was especially effective with his left hook which landed cleanly on Sykes on his way out of close quarters.

The pattern changed radically in round three, when the defending champion finally caught his rhythm and started to ouwork O'Hara on his way in and prevented the heated response from the Irish fighter. Sykes increased and refined his punch output as the bout progressed. He was sharper and more active down the stretch though O'Hara also had his moments.

After twelve rounds of action, all three judges scored it in favour of the local hero Sykes: 119-109 and 118-110 (twice). Both BoxingScene and Sky Sports' Glenn McCrory had it 118-111 - also for Sykes.

20-year old light welterweight stylist Tyrone Nurse struggled a bit but nevertheless got his first stoppage win in career dismissing no-hoper Johnny Greaves (2-50, 1 KO) at 0:30 of the fifth round. Greaves started his amazing career of professional loser less than three years ago. Nurse is now 13-0 with 1 KO.

In super flyweight match-up Paul Edwards (7-0, 1 KO) barely got the better of Anwar Alfadli (0-6-2) with the sole score 58-57 in his favour after six rounds.

Super featherweight John Donnelly (12-1, 3 KOs) stopped former British super flyweight titlist Andy Bell (11-7, 3 KOs) after three rounds of action when Bell chose to retire on his stool during the break. He is now 0-4 in his last four fights.

Jamaican native Max Maxwell (12-9-2, 3 KOs) scored the victory of the night with his monstrous right hand which landed flush on Brian Rose's chin and had him down face-first and out without a count at 2:14 of the sixth round. Prior to this rugged but limited enforcer Maxwell gave lanky stylist Rose (previously 14-0-1 with 4 KOs) hell in close quarters with his aggressive punching style. Rose tried to avoid his attacks with bobbing and weaving but more often was forced to answer back eating uppercuts to land his short right hands.

In his last fight Brian Rose stopped Jason Rushton in the tenth before the latter collapsed in his corner and was taken to the hospital for recovery. Luckily Rose, despite a frightful knockout, which had him out before he has even touched the canvas, avoided his fate.