By William Mackay: On June 18th, WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) looks to defend his World Boxing Council title against a 34-year-old Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) at the Arena VFG, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. This is the second time in Rhodes’ 16-year pro career that he’s challenged for a title. 14 years ago back in 1997, Rhodes failed in a title challenge against then WBO middleweight champion Otis Grant, losing by a 12 round decision against the American Grant.
Ryan Rhodes
Rhodes will have problems with Alvarez’s power
By William Mackay: 34-year-old Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) will be traveling a long way from his native UK to take on one of the biggest sluggers in the game in WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) on June 18th at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is going to be a home fight for the young 20-year-old Alvarez, who will have a huge crowd cheering him on and booing Rhodes every step of the way.
Rhodes will have to step up his game against Alvarez or get knocked out
By 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.
Rhodes = Slightly more mobile version of Matthew Hatton: Easy win for Alvarez
By Scott Gilfoid: I’ve studied many of challenger Ryan Rhodes’ fights in the past three years and I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s going to get beaten like an old rug on June 18th when he steps up a couple of levels to face WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (31-0-1, 26 KO’s) at the Arena VFG, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. To me, Rhodes looks like a slightly more mobile version of Matthew Hatton.
Rhodes: I’m bigger and stronger than Alvarez
By Scott Gilfoid: 34-year-old Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) is taking a huge step up in class in his fight against unbeaten WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) in their title fight on June 18th at the Arena VFG, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Rhodes is a decent fighter but is clearly not the puncher that Alvarez is. This is pretty much a mismatch between an aging fighter who has spent his entire career at the domestic and European level stepping it up late in the game to the world class level against one of the biggest punchers in the entire division.
Alvarez-Rhodes: If Saul wins, Mayorga bout waiting for him in September
By William Mackay: 20-year-old WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) makes his first title defense on June 18th against challenger Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) at the Arena VFG, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. This fight isn’t the big one that Alvarez wants. He’s eying a good fight against former two division world champion Ricardo Mayorga in September, provided that Alvarez beats Rhodes next month.
Alvarez too powerful for Rhodes
By William Mackay: Making his first defense of his World Boxing Council junior middleweight crown, champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) will be taking on his second consecutive opponent from the UK when he battles number #3 ranked WBC contender Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alvarez, 20, is a relative new comer to the sport compared to the 34-year-old Rhodes, who has been a pro for 16 years going into their fight on June 18th in Mexico.
Ryan Rhodes: Great boxing skills but he’ll still be destroyed by Saul Alvarez
By Scott Gilfoid: Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) clearly has the better boxing skills compared to the green 20-year-old WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) as they head into their June 18th fight at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. It’s too bad Rhodes is still going to be destroyed by Alvarez. Having better skills will have nothing to do with the outcome of this bout, believe me.
Saul Alvarez sparring with McEwan to get ready for Rhodes bout
By William Macky: Unbeaten WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) is reportedly sparring with middleweight contender Craig McEwan (19-1, 10 KO’s) to help get ready for Alvarez’s upcoming first title defense of his World Boxing Council title next month on June 18th against challenger Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. McEwan has the same kind of slick boxing style that Rhodes possesses but is more aggressive and has arguably better power.
Alvarez vs. Rhodes on 6/18: Saul makes his first defense
By William Mackay: In his first of what he hopes to be many title defenses WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KO’s) will be facing his mandatory contender Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KO’s) in a 12 round bout at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alvarez, still only 20, has got a big power advantage in this fight but will be facing a slick fighter in the 34-year-old Rhodes, who can also punch a little. Alvarez has proven in his last five fights that he can adapt to fighters that try to be slick with him.