can rhodes do it?

just wandering peoples opinions on the ryan rhodes vs saul alvarez WBC lightmiddle weight showdown in mexico? rhodes has had a long and fairly successful career, spanning over 15 years, fighting twice for a world title (losing a UD to otis grant for the WBO middleweight belt in 1997, and suffering a 2nd round KO from jason matthews in 1999 for the same belt).

the first loss to grant was against a good opponent and it could be argued the chance came to soon for rhodes. however, the second loss to matthews (not a great opponent) was very damaging for rhodes and seemed to knock his confidence. he fought a lower level class of opponents for a while, building himself back up, and catapulted himself back into the picture with a stunning 7th round KO of jamie moore. now he has been given a chance to once again fight for the world title. this really does seem to be last chance saloon for rhodes as a defeat would be disasterous.

so does he have a chance? alverez holds wins over varquez, cotto, baldomir, n'dou and most recently for the WBC belt matthew hatton. he is a good fighter but seems to lack real KO power (unlike rhodes who has phenmonal punching power). he will have the mexican fans on his side, as well as age, stamina and speed he has also fought better opposition than rhodes. added to the fact that the fight will be held at high altitude what do you recon rhodes chances are?

i think theres a good chance that it will be an alverez UD and expect him to outpace and outpunch rhodes through most of the fight. however made to put my money down and choose, i'm backing rhodes to win by KO. he has good technical ability, a decent chin, bags of expereince and devasting power in both hands. i think that in this case experience will show through and give rhodes the oppertunity to land that big punch he needs.

so final prediction is KO for rhodes, whilst behind on points.

been a sheffield lad, however it turns out wish all the best to ryan, he's worked hard, come back from disapointment and can't think of any boxer who deserves it more.

My predictions: Alvarez UD

I think Rhodes does have a slight chance though and will certainly put in more of a shift than Hatton. Thing is even if Rhodes looks like he's won it,it's in Mexico so it'll likely go in favour of Alvarez. I think Rhodes may need the KO.

thats the thing if alverez can't get rid of hatton in 12 then i doubt he can get rid of rhodes, and giving rhodes 12 rounds to land a KO punch is very dangerous.

I'm going Alvarez split decision. Rhodes is big at this weight and has power. Can't see him being stopped and he should cause problems. But Alvarez should just get past him. Looking forward to a tight fight.

I think Rhodes will win the fight in everyone's eyes except the 3 blind men who will give it to Alvarez by wide UD.

I'm not sure Rhodes quite has what you'd call devastating power of the one punch KO variety, but he hits harder than guys who've rocked Alvarez before so that could make it interesting. However, I expect Alvarez to do the more accurate and more consistent work over 12 to earn a UD but Rhodes will be in it, maybe scoring a knockdown at some point.

rhodes best strategy might be to go all or nothing in the first few rounds, as the longer the fight goes the better for alverez.

Think the southpaw stance of Rhodes could be a factor as well as his switch hitting which could confuse Alvarez who doesn't appear to the most adaptable of fighters although can see a hard fought but deserved decision for the Mexican.

if alverez does get the decesion over him, i can't see where goes from here, maybe a fight with matthew hatton would sell in the UK but would more than likely have to be on the undercard of something else.

Mexican opponent. Mexican belt at stake. Fight being held in Mexico.


Call me an old cynic, but...

you can't argue a KO though

There is that. I haven't seen enough of either guy, really. Instinct tells me it'll be another fight like Magee-Bute.

neither have i to be honest, he has a few good names on his cv, and is only 20 years old so must half decent. i saw him against hatton though and think based on that performance rhodes is in with a chance. i dont rate hatton and didn't think he was deserving of the title shot.

I hope I'm wrong, but I think Alverez destroys Rhodes. GBP don't often get it wrong.



Fit for Boxing

Rhodes certainly has the skill...Always been a fan but I'm not sure he has the engine to go the distance at a decent pace.....Surely this fight is destined to go to the late rounds...

An underachiever Rhodes and I hope he does it..

Am ready for this to be my ace in the hole when we do our next round of worst predictions but I actually fancy Rhodes for this one. Think he has developed into a decent all round fighter and am yet to be convinced by Alvarez. Watched the Hatton fight and what was apparent is how easy Saul was to hit. Rhodes is a far more spiteful and accurate puncher than Matthew and personally feel if he can land with anywhere near the frequency of Matt he has a great shout.

Although I have not seen the fight apparently Cotto's brother had Saul all over the place and he is far smaller than Rhodes. Maybe complete bias as he is a Sheffield fighter and a guy I like a lot but think Rhodes' will land enough to start to take a toll on Saul and may stop him late. However fighting in Mexico against the next Mexican superstar in waiting fear he may have to.

Alvarez by stoppage, Rhodes is vulnerable, looks tight at the weight and just isnt world level, he has been destroyed at domestic level and apart from Moore where he was getting beat he's done nothing imo. Alvarez to win and then move into bigger and better fights

Steven Rhodes is comfortable at the weight. See him pretty reguarly round town and he does not balloon up in weight. He has fought at middle before and it does not suit him, all his losses have been at middle, he remains unbeaten at light middle. He may well lose this fight but the weight will not and is not an issue.

Going for Alvarez by TKO. ay of not finished hatton, but has decent power, and think will be a bit of a war early, and with Alvarez landing better, ref steps in about round 8/9.

See him pretty regularly round time.........

and you can tell the difference between a guy that weighs 160 and 154 just by looking at him????

You seem to have an amazing grasp of the workings of the male body Rowley..

years of practice..no doubt

Cheap shot aside Truss the point I was making was when it comes to controlling his weight between fights he seems very much more in the Hopkins camp than the Ricky Hatton camp

Meant nothing by it.....When you say around town..do you mean at night in bars or just generally around town??

Likeable guy..hope he wins....A lot of talent.

He goes to the same gym as the missus Truss, so see him a lot when I pick him up. Have never known him to frequent the Blue Oyster, but you obviously know that well enough.

rowley wrote:He goes to the same gym as the missus Truss, so see him a lot when I pick him up. Have never known him to frequent the Blue Oyster, but you obviously know that well enough.

What a slip up, we know your secret now.

rowley wrote:He goes to the same gym as the missus Truss, so see him a lot when I pick him up. Have never known him to frequent the Blue Oyster, but you obviously know that well enough.

You mean when you pick HER up...don't you?!?

Unfortunate mistake by Rowley....

Slightly embarrasing that one, I do indeed mean when I pick her up, my wife Steve.

Lovely lady...big hands?

BALTIMORA wrote:Lovely lady...big hands?

I see you've met her Balti

Starting to lean towards Rhodes now....

Obviously in great shape from what Jeff's wife tells him......

8)

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Starting to lean towards Rhodes now....

Obviously in great shape from what Jeff's wife tells him......

She says he has unbelievable stamina, didn't realise she knew so much aobut boxing to be honest.

Did she by any chance make mention of Rhodes' ability to deliver a pounding..?

She did make reference to his in ring ability.

Did she mention his impressive fistic skills?

I believe that Alvarez is there for the taking. Yes he's an up and coming unbeaten Mexican youngster but Rhodes has looked good since dropping to LMW and has plenty of experience. Don't think it'll be pretty but I see him dropping and stopping Alvarez around round 9.

rhode's has bought his missis a hair dressers round the corner from my moms, shes not bad you know, not in frochs missis's class tho.

Bet Rowley's Mrs has her hair done there..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Bet Rowley's Mrs has her hair done there..

I wonder if Rhodes gets his hair (singular) done there?

I hope he can pull it off, it's his last chance at the world title. If he wins he may secure some decent paydays with the likes of cotto etc before he retires.

i think if he manages the win he could take on cotto or williams or someone like that in a big money fight in america and could also see a domestic tear up with him and hatton or maybe even someone like prince arron- think both would be great fights.

Although I think Alvarez is the type that does better the better the opposition, So he should Perform better against Rhodes than he did hatton, I think Rhodes has a great chance

1.) this is the first time Saul has fought at 154 lbs, he normally fights 147 or 150, therefore Rhodes is the first natural LMW he's fought
2.) Rhodes is the hardest hitter Saul would have met, hatton, n'dou, baldomir all have very low ko %
3.) Alvarez tends to outmuscle his opponents an runs them over, Rhodes didn't get run over by Jamie Moore who is stronger than Alvarez imo
4.) rhodes is sparring macklin who should prepare Rhodes perfectly
5.) Rhodes has the quicker hands and is very accurate, coupled with canelos questionable chin
6.) it's his very last chance and has been waiting a long time for this

I think canelo will win a SD which should have gone to Rhodes. Rhodes has the power to KO canelo and canelo has the power to KO Rhodes

Should be a good fight

4.) rhodes is sparring macklin who should prepare Rhodes perfectly
...........................
Yeah, a big slow thick set plodder as opposed to a fast footed and handed Mexican!

its make or break for rhodes, he knows that as well, he's fighting for the title that was ear marked for him 15 years ago, he must know that his entire life could be made a hell of a lot more comfortable in retirement if he takes this chance, so the motivation must be there.

Young_Towzer wrote:4.) rhodes is sparring macklin who should prepare Rhodes perfectly
...........................
Yeah, a big slow thick set plodder as opposed to a fast footed and handed Mexican!

I think Saul is being branded as something he's not. He is not fast footed and his hands, although not slow, are not that fast. Macklin will be in Rhodes face and use his 160lbs frame to bully Rhodes in sparring much like what Alvarez will be trying to do when they meet

Whilst I would like to see Ryan Rhodes do well, being an old Sheffield lad too.....(okay that's not true, just trying to jump the bandwagon)nope,sorry, think he's had his last moments in the sun.But I'd really, really like to be proven wrong.I think the other guy will get caught out quite soon,mind.Hatton and then Rhodes, there's a pattern that suggests they're not too confident and are hand-picking second tier guys.
Eeh, when I were a lad, I used to get woken up at three in the morning and murdered by my father..etc.