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: This Novel Won an Arthur Koestler Literary Award

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. And former Governor of Hull Prison, Philip Wheatley, described Sykes as a “short tempered” lag who assaulted staff “on a number of occasions”. 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. Syke’s father said he “encouraged” his son to turn pro because there are “fortunes” to be made in the sport.His first bout was in 1978 and ended with his opponent being unable to get off his stool for round two. Having been born in Wakefield in 1946, by 1990 Sykes had spent 21 years in 18 prisons for many violent acts including assaults against prison officers and police officers. And in the Paul Sykes: At Large documentary, the tension between Sykes and his father was often explored.

of infamous underworld debt collector who operated on Life of infamous underworld debt collector who operated on

An enjoyable read until he says he has no problem having sex with a child and then describes doing it! It’s all the same machine and I didn’t realise I had such a good brain until I took the wraps off and started using it. I've got a brilliant brain.”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.”

‎Sweet Agony on Apple Books

But as a professional boxer, the brawler still holds the record for being the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight contender with fewest professional fights. Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 293pp., yellow pictorial laminated wrappers. Crease in upper cover, but a very good copy. Notorious memoir of a violent criminal and, briefly, professional boxer. 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. Uncommon: COPAC lists just the Bodleian copy; OCLC finds five more in provincial UK libraries. Despite disparate datings (1990, 1991, 1993) this seems to be the sole edition. 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. He also earned money as a debt collector and one story involved him turning up at a man’s wedding to demand money. His boxing career concluded two years after it began and it included a failed attempt at becoming the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion.

Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth