Has Ryan Rhodes been badly-managed?

T.M.K · Post by **T.M.K** » 08 Jun 2006, 12:34

Ladies & Gents,

Name: "The Spice Boy" Ryan Rhodes
Age: 29
Record: 35-3
Titles-Won: British, WBO/IBF Intercontinental Light-Middleweight. WBO Intercontinental Middleweight.

Notables: Twice failed in WBO Middleweight title challenges.

Okay, so back in 1997 Ryan Rhodes was fast on his way to becoming the youngest British world champ since Eric Boon. He was unbeaten in 3 pro years of boxing and 16 starts, which included becoming youngest British champion and quickest outright winner of a Lonsdale Belt (in the time before 3 "wins" became 3 "defences"). In his 6th fight of 1997 he lost a close decision to Otis Grant for the WBO title, won 3 comeback fights, and then got pole-axed by Jason Matthews for the WBO title again.

Now up until this point, I think the management was pretty good, and I went along with everything, with the possible exception of moving up from 11st to 11st 6lbs, as I thought he should have stuck at Light-Middle.

But since then, has Mr Rhodes been badly let-down by his management??

He is 16-1 since the Matthews fight, and that one loss was a WBF-Intercontinental fight. Surely he should never have been in a WBF inter thingy fight in the first place, and surely with 16 wins in his last 17 outings there should have been more title opportunities. I mean, British, Commonwealth, European Middleweight titles could have been contested - and if they were worried about Howard Eastman chinning-him, then a drop back to 11st or some (WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO) intercontinental titles should have been garnered.

I just think the WBU thing is the wrong way for Rhodes to be going, and the best way would be British, Commonwealth, European 11st 6lbs belts and get back into the world scene properly.

Comments?

best wishes,

"T.M.K"

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 08 Jun 2006, 13:04

being one of Warrens golden boys he had it all on a plate... everything came easy so natural human behaviour dictates that in this situation you get lazy and spoilt....

I also think he is a "man child", like Tyson and Benitez his peak was at a very young age..

add these to together and you get your answer IMO.... Warren as much as a I criticise him very seldom mis-manages his fighters... they get good money and good opportunites

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 08 Jun 2006, 14:32

The thing is that Ryan cant take a punch, so is hard to match safely, even for WBO variety titles... when ever he's been caught on the whiskers he'd been koed. His wins since the Mathews fight have all been basically hand picked... he's like a Middleweight version of Herbie Hide....
to mention him in the same breath as Benitez is a bit misplaced...

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 08 Jun 2006, 15:38

He looks like he's extremely wary of taking any sort of punch and his own punches havent got anything behind them. I think the Lockett fight is quite dangerous for him really as Gary can really punch and its a foolish matchup imo, Ryan could get hurt...

beagleboy · Post by **beagleboy** » 08 Jun 2006, 16:41

He was offered title fights when Hennessy was promoting him but wouldn't take them. Had 5 warm-up fights then signed for FW who's kindly given him 5 warm-up fights
Can't make light-middle because he's a lazy pudendum

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 08 Jun 2006, 17:05

Doubt Ryan will get too badly hurt v Lockett: his chin makes sure he doesn't take a prolonged beating or too many shots.
One good one from Lockett, and it's goodnight sweet prince.

I think he's been managed well - took on a light punching WBO champ early on and picked up great experience as a result. And there wasn't much you could do with him after he got over confident and whacked out by Matthews.

I think he was down 2 or 3 times in his pro debut as well, barely escaping with a win.

states · Post by **states** » 08 Jun 2006, 20:11

Bit of a weird one, Rhodes. I always felt he was slightly pressured to step up too quick, given that he was built up as Hamed's best mate, as such. Naz brought the attention, and Rhodes was acclaimed as the next superstar. Think that was a burden, to be honest, because I always feel he was reaching a little too far, a little too soon.

He can't be called a failure, or a bum, as many would like to, because he flew through the ranks at British level, and looked good doing it. I do think, as was said, he was always likely to peak early, but I also think he rushed it a bit as well. I also know, as I was living in Sheffield in 96/97, that he wasn't well liked by a lot of people...... Mostly cab drivers who were '10 men' at the time.

I'd like to hear the views of boxrec's 'Jacko' on his career as a whole, because, after all, he probably knows him better than anyone else on here, even if they did meet when Ryan was past his best. I'm sure I remember Pete saying hitting him was easier said than done, even when Rhodes was supposedly well gone.

Jacko11 · Post by **Jacko11** » 09 Jun 2006, 04:50

Nowt to do with being badly managed his chin got found out 'game over'

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 09 Jun 2006, 08:32

Not badly managed at all. Since getting clocked by Matthews and then Blundell (ahem) he is now so wary and gunshy. What else could they have done with him? You have to take opportunities where you can and both the Grant and Matthews fights were good opportunities. He is just not as good as he was hyped to be.

Lockett will stretch him out.

JimmyJamJerusalem · Post by **JimmyJamJerusalem** » 11 Jun 2006, 15:49

Indeed Mr Lockett will make mince meat out of Rhodes!!

I think Lockett is the one who has been poorly managed!

One tough loss (which he later reversed in a rematch), then left on the shelf to rot.

He's an exiting box-fighter, with world class power!!!

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 11 Jun 2006, 16:41

All I will say is this:

A fighter has the ultimate reponsibility for his body. NOT managers or promoters.

Ryan Rhodes took the Spice bioy tag too seriously and put things into his body that I dont think helped his boxing career.

Add that to the fact that he was vastly overrated by people who pay more attaention to style rather than substance, means he acheived just about all he was going to do

Gary Lockett will KO him and always would have done.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 12 Jun 2006, 06:24

JimmyJamJerusalem wrote:Indeed Mr Lockett will make mince meat out of Rhodes!!

I think Lockett is the one who has been poorly managed!

Yep good call.

beagleboy · Post by **beagleboy** » 12 Jun 2006, 16:43

He is still putting things in his body that he shouldn't
Don't be surprised if the Lockett fight doesn't happen

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jun 2006, 18:29

beagleboy wrote:He is still putting things in his body that he shouldn't
Don't be surprised if the Lockett fight doesn't happen

Thats been a fairly well kept secret (whatever is meant by "things" obviously not positive even if legal)... I read the various UK boxing publications (religiously both before internet, now boxing monthly only) but I cannot remember reading anything about Rhodes not being a proffesional.

I know there were always questions over if he was a Light Middle or a Middle, but I always thought it was through choice (and "grabbing" opportunities) that he chose Middleweight in his earlier career.

JimmyJamJerusalem · Post by **JimmyJamJerusalem** » 13 Jun 2006, 00:04

beagleboy wrote:He is still putting things in his body that he shouldn't
Don't be surprised if the Lockett fight doesn't happen

Fcuk me, you've changed your tune!! You are always sticking up Rhodes over on Doghouse. I'm pretty sure we have a £20 bet with one another on the outcome of this fight too. Rhodes better not shit out again.

twenty six · Post by **twenty six** » 17 Jun 2006, 13:47

For the record, beagleboy is NOT beagleboys.
Someone who signs on as Funky Gibbo elsewhere and simply likes shit stirring.