September 18th at LG Arena in Birmingham for Ryan Rhodes European Light Middleweight title on Sky Box Office. This content is protected Betting Odds Rhodes 4/11 Konecny 2/1 "The Spice Boy" Ryan Rhodes Sheffield, England 33 years old 5,81/2ft 44-4 (30KO's) Former British Light Middleweight Champion Current European Light Middleweight Champion WBC No.4, IBF No.4 ESB No.8, The RING No.6 This content is protected Notable Fights TKO6 Win Luca Messi TKO7 Win Jamie Moore UD12 Loss Gary Lockett KO2 Loss Jason Matthews Amateur Career 53-14 What he said “I’ve been watching videos of his fights, and put it this way, he doesn’t throw many jabs, It’s all hooks and shots on the inside, so I know he’s going to be a pretty rugged customer." “In fact, he could be one of the toughest opponents I have ever faced. I don’t think he’s going to let me rest for a second, so I’m going to have go into the trenches and really take the fight to him. He’s experienced as well so it might be one of those fights that goes right down to the wire.” Lukas Konecny Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic 32 years old 5,8ft 44-3 (21KO's) Former WBO Light Middleweight title challanger IBF No.8, WBO No.6 ESB No.9 This content is protected Noteable Fights MD12 Win Jimmy Collas MD12 Loss Sergie Dzinziruk UD12 Win Rhoman Dhuzman UD12 Loss Michelle Piccirillo [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-3SdW3G55g[/ame] Amateur Career 230-25-2 2x World Amateur Bronze medalist 2000 Olympian The Fight It has been quite the turn around for Ryan Rhodes. After being hyped alongside stablemate and best friend Naseem Hammed as one of the stars of the future, his career took a turn after loseing World title fights at Middleweight. He was all but done after his loss to Gary Lockett in 2006, but after moving away from the Ingles at Winkerbank where he has been for 15 years as amateur and pro, and hooking up with young trainer Dave Coldwell he has been re-born. He racked up a couple of quick wins under Coldwell, and earned himself a British title fight knocking out Gary Woolcombe in spectacular fashion. From there he signed with Hayemaker promotions, and they set there sight on a World title by beating tough world ranked vetrans like Vincent Vuma. As Hayemakers tv feel through, Rhodes was forced into approaching domestic rival Jamie Moore. In what was the most anticipated clashes of last year, Rhodes stopped Moore in a back and forth classic, taking it to the Manchester man and beating him at his own game, stopping him in the 7th. With that Rhodes took away Moore's european title and high WBC ranking. Not able to get a title shot due to ridicilous polotics, Rhodes finds himself in against the tough and rugged Czech Lukas Konecny. Ranked in the top 10 by the IBF and WBO, its a great opportunity for Rhodes to secure his world title fight. It is probably the most under rated fight of the night with two top 10 Light Middleweights locking horns. Konecny, a world class amateur who went to the Olympics and won Bronze medals at the world championships cannot be under estimated. He is a come forward fighter who won't let Rhodes pass time in the ring. His best days may be behind him though, having had over 250 amateur fights, and coming close to his 50 in the pro's like Rhodes. He has won allot of fights, but has come up short in his biggest fights. It could be a case of one of them turning old in the ring infront of our eyes. Rhodes is the form man going in, infact he is in the form of his life and with vital home advantage Konecny's come forward style could make Rhodes look spectacular and he has the power to keep Konecny at bay despite the Czech never being stopped. Despite never losing at 154lbs, Rhodes has been hurt and stopped before, in his later years Rhodes has a tendancy to pace himself and coast rounds, and Konecny will be able to catch him in the early rounds. Barker vs Macklin - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247705[/url] Cleverly vs Murat - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247758[/url] Macciranelli vs Frenkel - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247975[/url] Chisora vs Sexton - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7574302#post7574302[/url] Brook vs Jennings - [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248229[/url]
I think Rhodes is very durable. I have to plead ignorance on the match-up, despite being well aware of his opponet I've never seen himfight (not even the loss to Drinzuruk, who I've seen a few fights of, that's one World titlefight Rhodes could get, on away turf and against a tricky undefeated customer Unlucky is Rhodes) so can't make a prediction. Could be FOTN IMO, gonna he watching With great interest :good
