Sykes fighting to keep Rio dream alive

LIGHT HEAVY: Rotorua's Tyson Sykes will hop in the ring today in a bid to box his way to the Rio Olympics. PHOTO/FILE

ROTORUA boxer Tyson Sykes will look to keep his Olympic dream alive when he fights in Auckland today.

Sykes is one of the best light heavyweight amateurs in the country and has been training hard in recent months to qualify for the Olympic Games.

He will fight Perth-based Kiwi Sloan Auckram to try and make it into the New Zealand boxing team, heading to China in March.

Three Olympic spots will be up for grabs in his weight division during the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifying event in China.

Boxing New Zealand high performance convenor Rick Ellis said Sykes would have to perform strongly to impress the selectors.

"Tyson will need to box well and win obviously and he could find his way to China," he said.

He explained the New Zealand selectors needed to be confident the fighters they send to China can compete on the world stage:

"I've got a couple of boys [fighting today] myself and my advice to them is don't just win, but win very well."

Sykes has spent time sparring with Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Nyika (Hamilton) this summer.

Ellis, who trains heavyweight Nyika, said Sykes was looking sharp.

"He has looked really good. His agility is good, his stamina is good and he is taking really good options."

Sykes and Auckram have fought each other before, at the nationals in Invercargill last October. Ellis said Sykes lost that match-up in a close fight. The pair are the country's highest-rated light heavyweight amateurs but only one can be sent to China.

Sykes has about 90 fights next to his name and is coached by father Mike Sykes at their family gym, Sykes Boxing Gym on Tania Cres.