Sykes also after redemption

As Kiwi boxing legend David Tua prepares for his "Redemption" match against America's Monte Barrett, Rotorua's Tyson Sykes is focusing on a redemption fight of his own.
Sykes, 23, is one of the boxers named in the undercard line-up for Redemption: Tua V Barrett II at the TestraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau tomorrow.
Tua was held to a controversial draw in Atlantic City in 2010 when he first fought Barrett, who knocked Tua to the canvas for the first time. Tomorrow, Tua will take on Barrett in the redemption fight, set at 12 three-minute rounds.
Sykes, who currently holds the New Zealand number two light heavyweight spot, will challenge New Zealand champion Reece Papuni from Christchurch in one of the three amateur fights before the main feature between Tua and Barrett.
The undercard line-up will also consist of five professional fights including Tauranga's Gunnar Jackson who will come up against Auckland's Isaac Peach.
Sykes has fought Papuni twice before - and lost - and he hopes this weekend's match will not only be "third time lucky" for the boxer, but also give him the chance to redeem himself in his own redemption-type fight.
Sykes has been training up to six days a week and sparring with Jackson once a week in preparation for his ranking challenge for the number one spot.
He says he is fitter and healthier now than his previous encounters with Papuni and hopes this will help him win.
If he does win, Sykes says he will be one step closer to his dream of competing at the Olympics.
"If I beat him they'll put me into the Olympics team."
"Right now I'd like to go to the Olympics and get a medal and see what comes after that," Sykes said.
Sykes' trainer, father Mike Sykes said this weekend's fight was an important one because it could mean his son could make it into the Olympic team.
"We want to turn professional."
He said his son had been training hard and was more focused this time around compared with previous clashes. He described Papuni as a "gutsy" fighter who would put up a good fight.
"I think Tyson's ready ... this is a big fight."
Meanwhile, Sykes' other son Armagh Sykes was also meant to fight in the amateur section of the undercard line-up but suffered a broken arm playing rugby last weekend.
Sykes said the injury also meant Tyson had lost a strong sparring partner in the final weeks of training.
"I would've been quite proud to have both of them fighting."
The Redemption undercard line-up includes amateur bouts between Auckland's Joseph Parker against heavy hitting Australian Nathan McKay and Auckland's Dempsey Doyle against fellow Aucklander Claudia Heijns.
There are also five professional bouts: Auckland lightweight Aung Sana will debut against Wellington's Scott Gardner, super middleweights Isaac Peach (Auckland) and Gunnar Jackson (Tauranga) fight over six rounds, and Auckland heavyweights Afa Tatupu and Joey Wilson meet over four rounds.
Tua's fight is live on Sky Sport from 7pm tomorrow.