By Scott Gilfoid: Having never fought a 1st tier opponent in his life and WITHOUT a top 15 world ranking, British fighter Gary Sykes (20-2, 5 KO’s) believes he’s earned the shot to fight undefeated WBO super featherweight champion Adrien Broner (23-0, 19 Ko’s) on May 19th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sykes, 28, not only doesn’t have a top 15 ranking, he’s also lost two out of his last six fights against a lower level fighter in Gary Buckland. So, Sykes doesn’t have a top 15 ranking, he’s never fought a top `15 opponent and has lost two out of his last six fights, and he considers himself deserving of a title shot?
I don’t know maybe things are looked at differently in the UK compared to the rest of the world, because I could have sworn that title challengers are guys ranked in the top 15 and fighting well at the time they get a title shot.
Sykes said to Batleynews.co.uk “I know I’m a 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.”
I fail to see where Sykes has earned a shot at Broner. In pouring over the 28-year-old Skyes’ resume, I see the following wins in the last couple of years:
Dean Mills (6-5-2)
Valentin Stoychev (2-7-1)
Carl Johanneson (30-4)
Scott Lawton (27-6-1)
Kevin O’Hara (27-6-1)
Andy Morris (18-2)
I’m afraid these guys aren’t good enough for Sykes to deserve a title shot against Broner in my book. They have world rankings for a reason you know. They do it to keep out 2nd tier fighters from being put in hopeless mismatches with champions like Broner. It’s going to be pitiful the way that Broner gives Sykes a real beating on May 19th. I think it will be a major victory for Sykes to just make it to the 2nd round without getting knocked cold by Broner.
The WBO has to step in and stop this massacre before it takes place. It won’t look good for Broner to be seen taking out some no-hoper in the 1st round because it won’t be competitive, and fans will see through it as soon as the blond-haired, likely fearful looking Sykes comes into the ring for his whipping.
Like I said before, if Broner is going to be set up with a Brit to slaughter just for kicks, then he needs to be pitted against the guy that beat Sykes twice Gary Buckland, not Buckland’s victim Sykes. I sort of wouldn’t mind seeing Broner face Buckland because that guy can at least punch a little, but no way do I want to see Broner destroying the light hitting Sykes. That’s not even sporting. It’s like going bird hunting with the birds kept in a small cage so that you can make sure you won’t miss. It’s not even interesting.
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