O'Hara (left) was beaten by Ricky Burns last June

Belfast boxer Kevin O'Hara was outpointed by champion Gary Sykes in Friday's British super-featherweight title fight in Huddersfield.

The Yorkshire man took a comprehensive points verdict with one judge scoring the bout 119-109 and the other two giving Sykes a 118-111 win.

Sykes wore O'Hara down with a succession of attacks to the body.

The defeat is likely to leave the Belfastman considering his future in the sport.

After a slow start, Sykes found his gears as the fight wore on with his body attacks particularly successful.

As O'Hara began to labour in the closing rounds, Sykes picked him off from range.

"From the eighth round onwards I had a bit of a niggle, I would have liked to have looked a lot better than that. But I did the job," said Sykes.

"Normally I get into wars but I kept out of that, which shows I've got another dimension."

Unbeaten Sykes, who was making the first defence of his title, extended his winning run to 16 professional bouts.

The Englishman edged out Andy Morris to win the British belt in March.

O'Hara's previous championship bout was a brave Commonwealth title points defeat by Scotsman Ricky Burns 11 months ago.

O'Hara has now lost six of his 23 career bouts and his chances of getting back in the British or Commonwealth title picture now look bleak.

The Belfast man also came up short in other previous title bouts against Willie Limond (Celtic) and Eddie Hyland (Irish).

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