Mentioned in the book, "Legends" by Charles Bronson, an A to Z guide of the men Bronson had regarded to be the toughest in Britain. Mentioned in the books, 'Legends' by Charles Bronson and 'The Guv'nor' by Lenny McLean, Sykes was regarded to be of the toughest men in Britain. He did them all but one of them got lucky and put a cut above his eye that took eight stitches to pull together". Sykes was a drunken thug who spent much of his life in prison, but his book is nevertheless the work of a sensitive and intelligent man. His first bout was in 1978 and ended with his opponent being unable to get off his stool for round two.

Sweet Agony - Paul Sykes - Google Books

Despite believing his drinking was harmless, he went on to be banned from Wakefield city centre for his anti-social behaviour. Jamie said he was approached by Sivell and Western Edge after the release of Unfinished Agony earlier in the year.He also earned money as a debt collector and one story involved him turning up at a man’s wedding to demand money. 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. His list of wild stories are endless, and to this day clips of his bizarre tales, including one about punching sharks, still go viral. I new my statutory rights you see just like Paul did” Can’t wait for the Film to be released in 2022’ Great investment. He was so highly thought of as a boxer he sparred with Leon Spinks and was photographed with Don King and Larry Holmes.

Sweet Agony: This Novel Won an Arthur Koestler Literary Award

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. One of the most bizarre stories Sykes enjoyed to tell was his apparent encounters with sharks during his travelling days.By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. He won a lifesaving award in 1973 when he was a lifeguard at one of Blackpool’s piers and he got himself a degree in jail, but his problems with alcohol and violence dogged him and he ended up dying of pneumonia and liver cirrhosis.