22.02.05 – Record-breaking Ryan Rhodes, the former British Light-Middleweight champion, is ready for a spectacular comeback and has returned to premier promoter Frank Warren to get him on track for a third World title shot. Rhodes started his professional career with Warren a decade ago as an 18-year-old hot shot trail-blazing his way through the domestic division setting records to become the fastest ever outright winner of the Lonsdale belt in just 90 days and, at just 20 years of age, the youngest British champion in 57 years..
Also winning IBF and WBO International titles, Rhodes had two attempts at the WBO World crown against Otis Grant and Jason Matthews – falling short on both occasions.
The switch-hitter from Sheffield now 30-3 (20 KO’s) believes that it is make or break time if he is to become a world champion and has made important changes in his career.
In addition to rejoining the Sports Network organisation, the 28-year-old has also parted amicably from trainer Brendan Ingle and sons John and Dominic and will now be joint-managed and trained by rising Sheffield promoter Dave Coldwell.
“In order to further my career I have taken these steps and I believe that they will pay off for me in the end when I am world champion,” began Rhodes.
“I want to stress that my parting of ways from Brendan, Dominic and John is totally amicable and I wish them and the lads in the gym all the best for the future,”
“I had many great years in the Wincobank gym as an amateur and professional and will remember them times with great affection,”
“However, I am at the stage in my career where I need to make a positive move or I will be left behind,”
“I believe that I have made the right choice in returning to Frank Warren and Sports Network who guided me superbly in my career and they can give me the big opportunities that are out there,”
“I am delighted to be joint-managed by Dave Coldwell who is an exciting young promoter who I have known for many years and will enjoy working with him,”
Inactive since April last year, Rhodes currently campaigns at middleweight and the plan is for him to have a few warm-up fights and then drop down to light-middle where he was so devastatingly effective.
He continued, “I want to keep active and fight regularly putting in impressive performances and then I will be ready to challenge for titles,”
“I’m still only 28 and have not had that many hard and wearing fights. I’ve got bags of experience and with the year out of the ring I feel like a rejuvenated fighter and am raring to get back into action,”
Rhodes finished by saying, “People were saying it was the end of road for me but I will prove that I have miles left in me and will complete the journey when I finally become World Champion.”
Warren said, “It’s great to have Ryan back with us, he’s a cracking lad and he achieved so much early on in his career. We will get to work on him and see how he goes and then get him in for a title fight.”