By James Slater: Fairytales rarely happen in boxing, but don’t tell that to British super-featherweight Gary Sykes. The little-known (outside of the U.K, anyway) 28-year-old has just had confirmation that he will indeed face unbeaten, possible future megastar Adrien Broner on the May 19th Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan II under-card set for Las Vegas.
Earlier in the week news broke informing us that Sykes, 20-2(5) MIGHT get the shot at Broner, the reigning WBO 130-pound champ, yet it was only 50-50 that the fight would be made official. Yesterday, to the utter delight of the former British champ, the fight is indeed a go – and Sykes has already hit the jackpot by being given the chance of a life time.
“I know I’m a big, big underdog, and I would love to see the odds against me winning but I think I’ve earned this chance and I deserve to be in there with him,” Sykes told Batley News. “Broner is a genuine world champion and it’s Las Vegas. I’m going to enjoy it but you have got to be in it to win it. I’ve been told if I beat him, I will automatically become a superstar. I have also been criticised by some for taking this fight.
“People have said I’m going to get slaughtered but I’m realising the dream of every young boxer.”
Broner, a talent already being compared to the exceptional Floyd Mayweather Junior by some, is actually six years younger than Sykes, yet “The Problem” has a substantial amount of experience over his next challenger. Coming off that ultra-impressive stoppage over the previously unbeaten Eloy Perez, Broner is absolutely bristling with confidence right now (not that he has ever lacked for confidence). Sykes has an absolutely golden opportunity in this fight, yet he will be shocking the world if he somehow manages to snatch the belt from the slickster from Cincinnati.
Sykes will possibly be spurred on by the British fans that will be present in Vegas for the Khan-Peterson return, and the challenger’s motivational levels will have never been so high. Is there a chance Broner will look past and underestimate Sykes? Maybe.
Unfortunately, and being realistic, I can’t see the gifted Broner having too many problems with Sykes even if the WBO boss does fail to study his challenger and instead pays him only partial respect. Sykes will give it his all (providing he doesn’t freeze), yet all that can really be expected from him is a proud, go-down-fighting performance.
Of course, upsets do happen in this sport, and Sykes is basically in a can’t-lose position. Wouldn’t it be something amazing if both Sykes and Khan managed to win on May 19th? That would be some fairytale.