‘Skint’ Lawton wants Sykes in Prizefigher

Scott Lawton is hoping to come up against unbeaten British champion Gary Sykes in next month’s inaugural Prizefighter: The Super-Featherweights tournament at York Hall on 20 November.

"If I get drawn against him (Sykes) and beat him they will have to give me a crack at his British title. I was shocked when I saw that Sykes was going into 'Prizefighter.' He could be making a mistake, but he obviously thinks that if he's the best in Britain, he should win and you have to give him credit for that,” reasoned Lawton to the Stoke Sentinel.

In addition to Lawton and Sykes, the super-featherweight line-up is arguably one of Prizefighter’s most competitive fields yet and includes Choi Tseveenpurev, Stevie Bell, Derry Matthews (who Lawton has stopped previously), Gary McArthur, Kevin O’Hara and Gary Buckland.

“I need the money more than they do. I'm skint and that's a massive motivation. I know it's going to be tough, but I fancy my chances. I'm coming towards the end of my career, but I still enjoy boxing. This will show where my future lies,” continued Lawton.

Lawton hasn’t fought since being stopped in three rounds in an unsuccessful challenge to Leva Kirakosyan for the European super-featherweight crown in March. The popular Stoke man will hopefully have earned well from his previous defeats to Jon Thaxton, Amir Khan and John Murray but is clearly banking on defeating Sykes in Prizefighter to generate one final payday.

Undoubtedly the all-action Sykes will be the one to beat in Prizefighter. However, my gut feeling is that the equally animated Gary Buckland will prevail providing the Welshman gets the rub of the green.