Gary Sykes will need to use brain as well as brawn to retain his British super-featherweight title.

That’s the warning to the Dewsbury man from opponent Liam Walsh ahead of tomorrow’s big bout at London’s ExCel Arena.

The 28-year-old from Cromer has 16 wins from 16, 11 of them inside the distance, and holds the Commonwealth and WBO international belts.

Sykes, 30, has more experience, with 27 wins and just three defeats on his card.

It’s the second time he has held the British crown, with Ashton’s Jon Kays beaten back in May.

“If I just go head-to-head with him, he’s got every chance,” admitted Walsh.

“But I have the better boxing brain and I’m the better all rounder.

“I also believe he’ll be very surprised by how strong I am and how hard I punch.”

Sykes versus Walsh is juts one of a string of title bouts on a mouth-watering bill which features Huddersfield’s Ismail Anwar in a six-round super-featherweight contest with Romeo Romaeo.

Bitter rivals Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury contest the European and British heavyweight straps.

It’s also an eliminator for the right to face world champion Wladimir Klitschko next year.

Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jnr have a match-up for the European, Commonwealth and British belts.

And Frankie Gavin and Bradley Skeete fight it out for the Commonwealth and British welterweight titles.

Huddersfield’s Tyrone Nurse fights a six rounder against Bulgarian light-welterweight Radoslav Mitev at Manchester Bowlers Arena tonight.