By Terence Dooley
British boxing fans received some good news when The Yorkshire Evening Post confirmed that Carl Johanneson will be granted a crack at Gary Sykes' British super-featherweight title on March 5th. Paul Truscott was rumored to have beaten Carl to the British title only for Frank Maloney, the manager of Johanneson, to step in and secure Carl his mandatory title shot.
Sykes was knocked out in a single session by Gary Buckland in November's Prizefighter: The Super featherweights tournament. Cynics suggesting that Truscott had been given the nod due to his low KO percentage - 2 KOs in 16 victories. Johanneson is a heavy handed fighter, the former British boss sharpened up with a points win over George Watson last month, moving to 30-4 (19) in the process. Sykes hails from Dewsbury, Carl boxes out of Leeds, the Yorkshire derby is bound to inspire a great atmosphere from those in attendance at Huddersfield leisure center.
“I’m just happy the fight is finally happening and I can’t wait to get in there now. We’ve sparring in the past but he’s improved since then so I’ll be looking for the best of Sykes and he’ll be looking for the best of me. It’s going to be really good fight," predicted the 32-year-old challenger.
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