Rhodes will have to step up his game against Alvarez or get knocked out

By Boxing News - 05/30/2011 - Comments

Image: Rhodes will have to step up his game against Alvarez or get knocked outBy William Mackay: While British boxing fans see Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) as an excellent fighter capable of beating WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) on June 18th when they meet up at the Arena VFG, in Guadalajara, Mexico, many boxing fans outside of the UK aren’t giving Rhodes too much of a chance in this fight. I’ve only see four or five fights of Rhodes in the past and really haven’t been impressed with what I’ve seen.

He’s a decent Euro level fighter in my perspective but not a guy that can compete with the likes of Alvarez, Alfredo Angulo, Kermit Cintron, Paul Williams or Miguel Cotto. This is why I’m hoping Rhodes can look a lot better on June 18th than he has in the past because he’s going to really need to if he wants to beat Alvarez.

The problem that Rhodes has, besides his lack quality opposition during his long career, is that he’s facing a fighter that is much younger and a lot more powerful than him. Alvarez can punch with much bigger power with every shot he throws. He’s not like Rhodes who has to load up to get good power. Alvarez can do it every time he throws. This puts Rhodes in a bind where he’s going to almost have to run in order to survive.

When you’re facing a guy n the young 20-year-old Alvarez who would likely destroy every opponent that you’ve ever faced in your career, it tells you that you’re going to have major problems unless you can raise your game in a significant way. I don’t think Rhodes is capable of being anything more than what he’s shown in the recent past, a slick fighter who is more and more hittable now that he’s reached his mid 30s. I can’t see how Alvarez will be able to survive long against Alvarez unless he runs. But running isn’t winning. This isn’t a fight where Rhodes can maybe luck out and get a home town decision. If he’s going to win, he’s going to have to work hard to earn it, and that’s not going to be easy to do because he doesn’t have the power or the youth to stand n there with Alvarez for 12 rounds.



Comments are closed.