Sykes outhustles Morris to capture vacant British title / Fury returns

Gary Sykes is the new British super-featherweight champion after he unanimously outpointed Andy Morris in an enthralling vacant title clash at the Huddersfield Leisure Centre on Friday night. The pair swapped nearly 2,000 punches between them during twelve clinch-free rounds but judges Phil Edwards, Victor Loughlin and Dave Parris preferred Sykes’ tenacity over Morris’ silkier skills as they made the Dewsbury man a narrow winner (116-113 and 115-114 twice). I had Morris shading it by a round. A rematch would be most welcome.

The pattern of the contest was established from the off with Sykes (9st 2 11oz) constantly pressuring with Morris (9st 3 13 oz) content to box off the back foot, utilising his superior footwork and movement. Morris began brightly, knocking Sykes off-balance with a glancing left hook but Sykes regained his composure and enjoyed success with his right hand which reddened Morris’ face.

It was Manchester’s Morris who was the first to settle though. Working behind a snappy left jab, Morris kept Sykes at bay and casually avoided the Yorkshireman’s attacks in rounds two, three and four by taking half steps to the side. Although Morris’ class was clearly in evidence, at times the former British featherweight champion neglected to punish Sykes after he had made him miss. Sykes simply kept ploughing forward and stuck to his task resolutely, which arguably persuaded the judges to gave him the nod in many of the close sessions.

After looking as though he was going to run away with it in the early exchanges, Morris was being gradually pegged back by the tenacious Sykes. A good right hand through the middle bypassed Morris’ high guard in round seven as the Manchester’s man previous edge in speed and footwork was starting to be negated.

Morris needed to introduce more devil to his work and finally began to stand his ground in the eighth as the action heated-up. Sykes continued to press with twos and threes but Morris neatly tucked up and picked a beautiful uppercut through the middle. Round nine also belonged to Morris as the Mancunian continued with his change of tactics by meeting fire with fire as he dug in some tasty hooks to Sykes’ body.

As the back-and-forth affair intensified, it was Sykes’ turn to register success in the tenth by connecting with solid right hands which the crowd cheered in appreciation as the home fighter started to come on strong. The unbeaten Sykes (now 15-0) was entering the championship rounds for the first time and Morris was intent on testing the Dewsbury man’s stamina and resolve. A succession of left hooks to the body troubled Sykes and noticeably stopped him in his tracks as Morris really poured it on in a dominant eleventh round.

The fight was very much there to be won in the pivotal final session. In typical fashion, both fighters bit hard on their gumshields and let their fists fly. Sykes, who momentarily switched southpaw, produced the cleaner work which probably swung the contest, and ultimately the vacant British title, his way. The outcome was tough on Morris though who more than played his part in this cracking scrap.

Tyson Fury (18st ¾ lb) returned from five months out with a first-round stoppage over the outgunned Hans-Joerg Blasko (17st 7lbs). A right hand to the temple wobbled Blasko in the opening exchanges and a body shot, followed by a clubbing left hook, dropped the German for a count of four.

More sustained pressure from Fury, which culminated in a right hand over the top, bundled Blasko to the mat against the ropes. The German clambered to his feet but referee Steve Gray recognised that the visitor was out of his depth and sensibly ended matters after issuing Blasko the mandatory eight count. The official time was 2.14. Despite his dominance, Fury finished with a bloodied nose but made it ten out of ten as a professional. The outspoken Manchester heavyweight is now expected to take on John McDermott in a rematch for the English title on 22 May.

Local favourite Tyrone Nurse (10 st ¾ lb) stretched his unbeaten record to 12-0 but was given a stern examination of his credentials by Sheffield slugger Adam Kelly (10st ¾ lbs) in their light-welterweight encounter over six-threes. The lanky Nurse has a lovely relaxed style but paid the price for poking out a lazy left jab and was dumped to the canvas by a right hand counter from Kelly. Tyrone rose quickly but was more irritated by his defensive lapse than genuinely hurt.

Nurse continued to box cooly from the outside and a rice right hand-left hook combination with his back to the ropes was impressive in the fifth. However, a cut to his left eye ensured that the 20-year-old needed to box with caution in the final session before taking 58-55 points verdict from referee Gray. The Huddersfield prospect is still seeking his first stoppage but has some impressive skills.

Other Results

John Hussey wpts 6 (59-56) Danny Parkinson (light-welterweight)

Ryan Brawley wpts 6 (59-57) Sebastien Cornu (lightweight)

Carl Frampton TKO1 Istvan Szabo (super-bantamweight)

Daniel Randall wpts 4 (39-37) Carl Allen (light-welterweight)

Alastair Warren TKO2 Matt Scriven (middleweight)

Josh Warrington wpts 4 (40-36) Danny McDermid (super-bantamweight)