Ryan Rhodes Defiant: “I’m Still The Best in Europe!”

By Terence Dooley

Sheffield’s Ryan Rhodes lost for the first time in nearly five years after being stopped at 0:48 of the twelfth and final round of his WBC 154lb title challenge to Saul Alvarez on Saturday night.

Rhodes, 45-5 (31 early), came to the Arena VFG full of vim and optimism only to find ‘Canelo’, now 37-0-1 (27), too big, too strong and too good.  The 20-year-old Mexican prodigy looked bigger than when he won the vacant belt against Matthew Hatton in March. 

Ryan was floored from a temple shot in the fourth.  ‘The Spice Boy’ failed to get himself back into the fight; he had no complaints when referee Hector Afu called time on the contest.  David Coldwell, trainer of Rhodes, had made his way to the ring apron with the white towel anyway.

The 34-year-old admitted that he lost to the better man.  Ryan, though, believes that he can drop back down to European level and pick up his old title if given the opportunity. 

“I’m still not finished. I’ve still got plenty of good years in me yet. I’m still loving the game. I never lost my European title or gave it up.  So I’m still number one in Europe – I could fight for that and see where we go from there,” said Rhodes, speaking to the Sheffield Star

However, EBU rules state that their belt becomes vacant if the incumbent loses a world title challenge.  Indeed, Lukas Konecny has been penciled in as the co-challenger for the vacant belt.  Rhodes may have to wait in line as he picked up a cut to his left cheek during Saturday’s defeat.

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