World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Spice Boy’ to hang up gloves after glittering career Former WBO and WBC title challenger Ryan Rhodes has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 35 after claiming numerous accolades over a seventeen-year career. Known as the original ‘Spice Boy’ from his days as a flashy youngster during the Britpop scene, Rhodes became the youngest fighter since the war to win the British title when picking up the Lonsdale belt in 1996. Rhodes would then go on to fight for a world title just one year later, before enjoying success in his later years by picking up another British belt at 31, and the European title in 2009 with a world-class performance against Jamie Moore. The Sheffield fighter would ultimately fail in his bid to overthrow the formidable Saul Alvarez on the youngster’s home soil in his final world title shot last year and a defeat to Sergei Rabchenko in his most recent outing obviously led to today’s decision to step away. ...

Ryan Rhodes v Sergey Rabchenko (European middleweight title) Velodrome, Manchester, UK 12x3                                                                   Rhodes                          Rabchenko              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                           9                                10              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------   ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Hitman’ preparing Belarussian against own fighter It has emerged that promoter/trainer Ricky Hatton is currently in camp with European title challenger Sergey Rabchenko as the undefeated fighter prepares to lock horns with Hatton promoted Ryan Rhodes on June 16. In a recent Twitter exchange, Rhodes’ trainer and manager David Coldwell expressed his surprise at the move and was under the impression that the two-weight world champion was not training the Belarussian to beat one of his own fighters. Hatton, 33, seems intent on continuing to coach Rabchenko for the bout next month as two of his stable battle it out for the EBU light-middleweight belt on the 'Road to Glory' bill at the Velodrome in Manchester on Hatton’s final televised card for Sky Sports. Top of the bill is the interim WBA bantamweight title bout between British champion Scott Quigg and former world title challenger Rendall Munroe, with Martin Murray and heavyweight pro...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor IBF champ rules out Briton for title bout Former world light-middleweight title challenger Ryan Rhodes’ declaration that he is targeting a bout with IBF belt holder Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage has been met with a clear response by the American champion, who isn’t going to wait for the Briton to position himself for a shot. The 38 year-old is currently awaiting a shortlist for his next defence of the title and has exclusively revealed to WBN that Rhodes, 35, will not be in line for a shot after he makes an eight-round comeback at the weekend in Rotherham. “Time is all we got and Rhodes don’t have no time,” Bundrage preached to World Boxing News. “Don’t’ waste it trying to take my belt as it won’t happen and that’s all you got.” Sheffield’s Rhodes will fight Siarhei Khomitski at the Magna Centre on Saturday in his first bout since losing to Saul Alvarez in the twelfth and final round in Mexico and can ill afford another loss at this stage ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture courtesy of Boxing Scene) Alvarez retains world title in dominant win WBC light-middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (37-0-1) showed maturity beyond his 20 years in a convincing twelve round stoppage over Britain’s Ryan Rhodes to successfully defend his belt for the first time. The unbeaten title holder was able to pick and choose his attacks throughout the fight as the challenger had no answer to his power and speed. The Mexican got into his stride after a tentative first round and seemed to be in full control of Rhodes, who found it hard to get his shots off and seemed worried about Alvarez’s power and rightly so. ‘Canelo’ put Rhodes down in fourth round after a three-punch combination and used his uppercut with great accuracy in the later rounds to wear Rhodes down. Alvarez was able to pick and choose his attacks at times and never seemed worried about what Rhodes had to offer. His combinations were sickening at times as he ground the Briton ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Bundrage rules out defence against Briton IBF light-middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage has told WBN that he isn’t interested in defending his title at the moment and would much rather consider a unification bout with one of the three other 154lb champions in his division. The 37 year-old was linked to a defence against top 10 ranked Ryan Rhodes from Sheffield in the UK, but has denied considering the bout and scoffed at a meeting with the former European champion in the future. “I haven't been in any discussions with anyone from his team, regarding a fight, nor was I offered any money to fight Rhodes oversees or anywhere else,” Bundrage explained to WBN. With the WBC version of the light-middleweight title, formerly held by WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquaio currently vacant, that would still leave three options for the former Contender US semi-finalist, two of which have scheduled bouts in the near future. Rugged Puerto Rican Migue...