Sykes climbs off the canvas to retain British title

Dewsbury's British super-featherweight champion Gary Sykes retained his title on points after a pulsating West Yorkshire derby against former champ from Leeds, Carl Johanneson. The writing looked to be on the wall for Sykes when he was dropped in the ninth by a big right hook when the contest was at a really balanced stage. But the knockdown appeared to steel the champion's resolve and he swept the last three sessions due to his will to win and excellent fitness levels.

Johanneson started the aggressor and had success with regulation left jabs whilst Sykes looked to counter. There was an eye-catching flurry from the champion to end the round but he was also warned twice during the session for use of the shoulder.

Sykes took the second displaying his usual nice fast hands and with footwork that made the challenger look a bit pedestrian whilst the third was a very close affair with Johanneson trying to walk down Sykes with some success whilst the younger man (27 to Carl's 32) remained busy.

Sykes visibly slowed as early as the fourth and remained in the pocket, losing the round but even though he wasn't as elusive he won the fifth.

The sixth was yet another tight round as Sykes felt a short right hook but responded well. Johanneson seemed to decide he was going to put his foot down in the seventh and had very little respect for Sykes' power. A right hook to the top of the head appeared to buzz the champ and the challenger followed it up with punches in bunches.

Sykes got back on his toes in the eighth and took the round before that right hook detonated on his chin in the ninth. It really looked as if the writing was on the wall for Sykes, especially as there was so long left in the round, but Sykes responded incredibly well. He seemed determined to hang on to his belt down the stretch whereas Johanneson, looking all of his 32 years, let him off the hook and just couldn't summon up the effort needed to grab the belt.

Mutual respect was shown at ringside with Sykes paying testament to the hard time he received in sparring from Johanneson as a young pro whereas the Leeds man said, in typically economical fashion, "He outboxed me. Fair dos."

Scorecards were 116-112, 115-112 and 115-113.