DEWSBURY Moor boxer Gary Sykes is set to turn professional full-time following last Friday’s stunning British super featherweight title win over Manchester’s Andy Morris.

The 26-year-old earned a unanimous points victory to become the first Dewsbury fighter to win a Lonsdale belt.

Sykes said: “I have enjoyed my time working at UK Greetings but the time is right for me to take my boxing to the next level and go full-time.

“I know I have so much more to learn and going full-time will help me improve.

“I will enjoy my victory now but I know a lot of hard work is still to come. Things are not going to get any easier, as fighters are going to want to take my belt off me but I don’t think I have found my top level yet.”

Sykes was back at UK Greetings on Tuesday where he was congratulated by work colleagues. He will continue to work there until he gets a date for his first defence and will then move full-time.

Sykes joked: “Its hardly the image of a boxer turning up to the gym with glitter on my face and having played with pretty ribbons and cards all day.”

Trainer Julian McGowan, who played a vital part in Sykes’s success, added: “I said four years ago that Gary had the ability to at least win a British title if not go higher.

“The victory is great but there are still plenty of things to work on to make Gary a better fighter and move him up to the next level.”

Sykes was roared to victory by more than 700 supporters in Huddersfield while promoter Frank Maloney was also at ringside to see his young star.

Speaking exclusively to The Reporter, Maloney said: “He is a very young champion. We talked to his team, took the gamble to take the title fight and it has paid off.

“We will now look to develop Gary as a fighter, look to win the Lonsdale belt outright and then maybe look at European level.

“It was a good fight (against Morris) and we could possibly look at having a re-match but I think Gary would walk through Morris next time as he was very nervous.”

Maloney was impressed by the level of support Sykes had and has vowed that the first title defence is in West Yorkshire.

Maloney added: “I can guarantee his first title defence will be held locally. We will look to build Gary’s following slowly to the point he gets a fan base from the whole of Yorkshire.”

Several opponents are already been talked about for Sykes’s first defence. A re-match with Morris is one route, while the likes of Anthony Crolla – who Sykes beat in a title eliminator last May – and Ricky Burns could also be in the frame.

Crolla was in the crowd last Friday and was one of the first people to congratulate Sykes.

There is also the tantalising prospect of a West Yorkshire clash with another of Maloney’s fighters, former British champion Carl Johanneson.

l Big fight report: Page 66.