Sergey Rabchenko stuns Ryan Rhodes to grab the EBU light middleweight title – Boxing News
Sergey Rabchenko, the incumbent WBA Intercontinental light middleweight champion, grabbed yet another title by knocking out British pounder Ryan Rhodes, the former EBU (European) light middleweight champion. Sergey ended the show in the seventh round of
the 12-round bout held on June 16, 2012.
The bout was for the vacant EBU (European) light middleweight title. Sergey emphatically thrashed the former EBU European champion’s dream of grabbing the country’s apex divisional gold yet again.
The bout co-headlined the pay-per-view organised and promoted by Ricky Hatton of Hatton Promotions. The ring for the showdown was set up at Velodrome arena in Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom. The night was headlined by the Interim WBA World super
bantamweight title bout between Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe.
From the very beginning of the bout, despite having the odds totally against him, Sergey did not allow much leverage to the Briton and kept a tight hand by throwing well calculated jabs at frequent intervals.
Sergey, 26, was entering his career’s 21st bout, boasting an undefeated streak. The young Belarusian has nailed 15 of his opponents by knockout.
Rabchenko was coming off an impressive first-round knockout win over Ronny Gabel. He also boasted a high-profile win over Bradley Pryce, a brawl in which he grabbed the vacant WBA Intercontinental light middleweight gold.
His Saturday night opponent was entering his 52nd bout, boasting 46 wins. The 35-year-old has pinned 31 of his opponents by knockout and therefore cannot be underestimated at all for being a below par pugilist.
Above all Rhodes’ experience was far more refined as compared to Sergey. Ryan collided with Saul Alvarez for his WBC light middleweight title. Though the attempt went unsuccessful and Rhodes got knocked out in the 12th round, yet the experience
and game plan learned was definitely invaluable.
Ryan started things off in a sluggish manner and it was Sergey who adopted the aggressor role from the very beginning of the bout. Rhodes started to dominate from the second round and onwards and emphatically won the second, third and fourth rounds.
However, his progression was severely halted by the Belarusian pounder who made an impressive comeback in the fifth and sixth round as a result it was Sergey who won the rounds unanimously.
The bout entered the decisive seventh round and Ryan was visibly out of gas. Rhodes connected some clean shots but later on Sergey moved in and stunned the former champion with a huge hook.
Ryan was unable to break the 10-count, and at 2 minutes and 54 seconds the referee officially ended the bout denoting Sergey as the winner and the owner of the EBU (European) light middleweight title.
With this win Sergey has strengthened his win strike by 21 wins – 16 via knockout and Ryan, unfortunately, has received his sixth career loss.
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