RYAN RHODES knows just how difficult it is to fight Canelo Alvarez. He fought the Mexican as far back as 2011 in what was only Caneloโs first world title defence. A talented and seasoned European champion then, Rhodes thought he would outbox Alvarez. But he miscalculated.
โHe was just so accurate, he was just so sharp,โ Ryan told Boxing News. โHis movement was good, his defence was good. He didnโt waste anything. Heโd throw a punch and if he was going to throw a punch youโd know he was throwing it to land. Not just a range-finder, he was throwing it with intention.
โHis fight before that was Matthew Hatton and all he did was walk through Matthew Hatton. I thought if he was just going to do that it would work in my favour because Iโm a boxer, Iโm a counter-puncher, Iโll pick him off, Iโll move. And I just thought Iโd use my boxing brain and Iโll outscore him, outpoint him. But he never did that with me. He held the centre of the ring.โ
Rhodes continued: โI thought this wasnโt the Canelo that boxed Matthew Hatton. So obviously the first round I had to change my game plan and try and pressure him a little bit because he used a different game plan to what we thought.
โHe can box, he can fight, he can stand on the inside, he can move on the outside. Heโs got a very good boxing and fight game.โ