Info on Hayemaker Boxing card on 20th September

ishy · Aug 16, 2008

Sheffield star Ryan Rhodes embarks on his second reign over the British light-middleweight division when he locks horns with Scottish challenger Jamie Coyle on September 20 at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre, screened live and exclusively on Setanta Sports.

‘The Rhodes-show' will mark the birth of Hayemaker Boxing. Topping the bill and no stranger to Sheffield boxing aficionados will be two-time British champion Rhodes, who returns to his British throne some 11 years after winning his first Lonsdale title in December 1996. Still only 31, Rhodes makes the first defence of the title he won in April when halting Lewisham's Gary Woolcombe in nine rounds.

Over a decade on from his first title triumph, Rhodes insists he's never felt better.

“The Ryan Rhodes of today definitely beats the Ryan Rhodes that won the title in 1996,” says the Sheffield switch-hitter, 39-4 (27 KO) as a pro.

“I actually watched the two title wins (against Paul ‘Silky' Jones in ‘96 and Woolcombe in April) back-to-back a few days after the Woolcombe fight and couldn't believe the difference. I'm better in every department now. I'm stronger, fitter, faster and just more comfortable as a fighter. I've never felt better.”

A pro since February 1995, Rhodes has competed at both domestic and world level with varying degrees of success. A former WBO world middleweight title challenger, Rhodes feels if the time came around again he'd be better equipped to not only challenge for but ultimately win a version of the world light-middleweight title.

“I'm taking it one step at a time, but I've definitely still got ambitions for world titles,” he says adamantly. “There's no doubt in my mind that I'm good enough. I think I'm better prepared now than I've ever been before and would go into a world title fight with every confidence that I'd come away with the title.”

Sterling-based challenger Coyle plans to put the proverbial spanner in the works come September 20. A talented amateur, Coyle has strung together an impressive record of 16-3-1 (8 KO) in the pro game. A tall stylist with cute skills, Coyle has bided his time on the domestic scene, patiently waiting for his shot at British boxing's most illustrious prize. Also 31, Coyle knows now is the time to live up to his undoubted potential and etch his name in British boxing history.

Offering Rhodes' headline slot some ample support will be prospects all looking to eventually manoeuvre their way to British title shots of their own.
Adding some further local flavour to proceedings will be Yorkshire's Josh ‘The Outlaw' Wale and Curtis Woodhouse.

Super-bantamweight Wale, 7-0 (3 KO) as a pro and fighting out of Barnsley, describes himself as “Britain's answer to Antonio Margarito” (aye, that'll catch on - Ed.) and never lets up from first bell to last. Always exciting and always willing to throw his hands, Wale is hell-bent on securing a British title shot as soon as possible.

Boasting a similar intensity is footballer-turned-fighter Woodhouse. A former pro with Sheffield United and Birmingham City, Woodhouse famously switched disciplines in September 2006 and set his sights on securing a Lonsdale title – something he'd dreamed about since he was a boy. Ridiculed at first, Driffield-based Woodhouse now stands at 7-0 (4 KO) as a pro boxer and, as stoppage victories mount up, critics fast appear to be fading away.

Another local man - of the converted type - appearing on September 20 is New York-born, Sheffield-based slugger Patrick Maxwell. Middleweight contender Maxwell – heavy-handed and ferocious – is on the rampage towards British honours and states that within 12 months he'll be in a position to challenge for and win either the British or Commonwealth title.
Wale, Woodhouse and Maxwell aspire to claim British boxing's premier title.
Liverpool's Tony ‘The Warrior' Dodson has already been there. A former undefeated British super-middleweight champion, Dodson, now 23-4 (12 KO), is determined to win back the title he never lost in the ring. A second chance is imminent. Dodson is straining at the leash.

Continuing the Liverpool connection is promising pro and former ABA champion John ‘The Hurricane Kid' Watson, 7-0 (3 KO). He looks to make it eight out of eight on September 20.

Moving away from themes of continuation and returning, Peterborough bantamweight Michael Maguire is only just getting started. A former European under-19 gold medallist as an amateur, Maguire makes his eagerly-awaited pro debut on September 20. Already likened to a young Roberto Duran (no pressure there then - Ed.) by trainer Adam Booth, Maguire is a ferocious box-fighter of whom bright things are expected.

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FLINT ISLAND · Aug 16, 2008

what a comedown Rhodes has had

he was once like the Lee Sharpe of the boxing world

a young charsttic sportsman who was supposed to go on and do great things

"A world champion at three different weights and thats no lie"

what bull****

over a decade on and reality bites - a British Champion - yes - but certainly no 3 weight undisputed Supermiddleweight Champion - Global Superstar with millions in the bank

at least Ryan has now grown up and can plough his trade at British / Euro level and still make a decent living

Fat Joe · Aug 16, 2008

FLINT ISLAND said:

at least Ryan has now grown up and can plough his trade at British / Euro level and still make a decent living
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I didn't know Ryan was a farmer.

TFFP · Aug 16, 2008

Rhodes need to kick on. Pointless wasting away domestically if he's really in such great form, and I tend to agree he's looked his best for a while - and 154 is his weight. He has good power and speed at this weight.

Time to try and get a world title shot.

GazOC · Aug 16, 2008

Rhodes was a junior middleweight in his prime, he got offered a shot at 160, took it and lost it. He should have gone back to to 154 to rebuild but he stayed at 160 and he was never going to win a world title at that weight. I'm convinced he'd have won a strap if he'd have stayed at 154.

dwilson · Aug 16, 2008

I am thinking of going to see this. Pretty local and a very good undercard set ofd fighters. Rhodes should win and I really want to see Josh Wale fight.

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