And in the Paul Sykes: At Large documentary, the tension between Sykes and his father was often explored. 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. The life of an infamous underworld debt collector who operated in Teesside is being adapted into a film. Syke’s father said he “encouraged” his son to turn pro because there are “fortunes” to be made in the sport.

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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. 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. 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.” And he also suggested the hydration was “necessary” for his kidney after he ruptured it playing football in 1966.Speaking to The Gazette about the release of his first book Jamie, who now lives in Northallerton, said: “Sykes was a fascinating character - someone who fought for the British and Commonwealth title but spent many years in prison and ended up dying a broken man. 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.” Much traveled in the U.K. Prison system: 25 transfers in 20 years, 21 of 26 years were spent in various British jails His boxing career concluded two years after it began and it included a failed attempt at becoming the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion. And although Sykes could be characterised as a violent narcissist, he showcased his empathic side after one fight.

‎Sweet Agony on Apple Books

Sykes died at the age of 60 in March 2007 at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield after suffering from pneumonia and liver cirrhosis.

One of the most bizarre stories Sykes enjoyed to tell was his apparent encounters with sharks during his travelling days.