Sweet Agony

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He left behind children - including Paul Leighton Sykes and Michael Sharp who are serving life sentences for murder. And Sykes later claimed from prison: “What’s got me into trouble in the past is having my physique trained as a child but not my emotions.” He is said to have been “respected” by the likes of Charles Bronson, dubbed Britain’s most violent prisoner, and ex boxer and bouncer Lee Duffy from South Bank, who was killed in a street stabbing.

Book tells story of boxer jailed in Blackpool

When not inside, he travelled the world and was banned from pubs in his hometown of Wakefield, West Yorks, after his alcohol abuse caused chaos in the community.His intellectual abilities were discovered in jail when he began spending time reading books before publishing his own. Contested three timer for the British and Commonwealth Empires heavyweight titles as a professional, but did not win those bouts She said: “I’ve been used to brutality with my husband - perhaps that’s why Paul thinks he’s got to use force because his dad’s always used force.” While jailed for violence, Sykes spent his time passing an Open University degree in Physical Sciences and earning the Arthur Koestler prize for prison literature. You’d be forgiven for thinking Sykes’ upbringing was far from desirable when you consider how he once described being put behind bars.

SWEET AGONY BY Paul Sykes. Rare 1st edition. original. Mint SWEET AGONY BY Paul Sykes. Rare 1st edition. original. Mint

His mum once said in a documentary, Paul Sykes: At Large: “I never had any problems with him as a little boy, he was always a grand lad.

And former Governor of Hull Prison, Philip Wheatley, described Sykes as a “short tempered” lag who assaulted staff “on a number of occasions”. There was a lot of stuff I didn’t use in the first book because I felt it was too raw - but my publisher said I should use it for a second book. While in prison, Sykes wrote an award winning book called Sweet Agony where he articulated his rollercoaster life. In March this year, The Gazette told how a Teesside author had taken an uncompromising look at the life of Paul Sykes - a professional boxer, violent criminal and notorious jailbird.

Sweet Agony - Paul Sykes - Google Books Sweet Agony - Paul Sykes - Google Books

But as a professional boxer, the brawler still holds the record for being the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight contender with fewest professional fights. And although Sykes could be characterised as a violent narcissist, he showcased his empathic side after one fight.His first bout was in 1978 and ended with his opponent being unable to get off his stool for round two. He also earned money as a debt collector and one story involved him turning up at a man’s wedding to demand money. Sharks will have a look at me and think ‘yeah’ but I know how to do them - you punch them right in the f*****g earhole and they swim off.” Death

Paul Sykes - Sweet Agony - Facebook

Sykes added: “I like being drunk. I've never had any complaints about being drunk if I have been drunk. I still manage to keep my wits about me although I don't remember what I have done. But it runs in the family anyway.” And it was violence that led to Sykes spending over two decades of his 60 years on Earth in prison - where he became pals with fellow tough guy Charles Bronson. Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth Clips from the Paul Sykes: At Large documentary are often shared on social media and go viral, as new viewers join the legions who have lauded him as a cult hero. Read More Related Articles He was handed his first pair of boxing gloves aged four by his dad who had spent 10 years in the army before ironically becoming a prison officer.He said: “I've altered the physical side to the intellectual and academic side. Using my brain instead of my body. And during one legendary trip, he claimed he had no choice but to swim across the Straits of Johor, a stretch between Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia that's avoided by locals because of the sharks lurking. Use italics (lyric) and bold (lyric) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part